‘Strong roots,’ young age

While most students simply hope to pass their classes, one determined UTSA student hopes to win a San Antonio City Council seat. 
Senior political science and American studies major, 22-year-old Juan C. Davila turned in his application just before the due date to be placed on the 2009 District Eight City Council ballot.  Davila has big dreams.
“I chose to turn it in because I wanted to make a difference sooner than later,” Davila said. Davila is the youngest of six candidates for District Eight.
With the exception of one candidate, for Davila and the other four candidates this is their first time running for city council.
“I realize my chances of winning are not that great, I will take this as a learning experience,” Davila said.  “I am young and will continue to work hard to get to this goal,” he said.
In order to run for a city council seat, candidates must be 18 years of age.
Considering Davila’s youth, he is well aware of the issues affecting District Eight and the city of San Antonio. Davila’s biggest concern within our district is the environment.
“The Aquifer is one of our most vital resources, over the last few years developers have constructed over the recharge zone, which leaves nowhere for water to be absorbed, creating a cycle of runoff in the streets, pot holes in the roadways and headaches due to construction,” Davila said.
“We need to incorporate development more into our environment rather than pitting ourselves against nature,” he said.
Growing up, Davila lived all over the world including Turkey, Germany, New Mexico and a few years of his childhood right here in San Antonio. 
“My father was a drill sergeant in the Air Force, so we had to move often,” he said. 
When Davila was 11 years old his family moved from Portales, N.M., to the south side of San Antonio. Davila did not come from a wealthy family.
“I remember my mom having to feed me, my older brother and my little sister off of $20 a week…this is when I learned the true value of a dollar,” he said.
Between the ages of 12 and 14 Davila was enrolled in a pre-freshmen engineering program that was offered to gifted and talented students.
“It was a summer course, my family only had one car, so every day and night I rode the Via bus two hours each way to and from campuses,” Davila said.
The pre-freshmen engineering program alternated campuses each year between St. Phillip’s College, UTSA and San Antonio College.  
Davila later graduated from Portales High School in New Mexico. The day following his graduation, he packed his bags, loaded his car and drove his 1997 Honda Accord to San Antonio to begin school at UTSA.
“I’ve moved to so many places, but San Antonio had always felt like home for me,” Davila said. 
Davila lives the life of the majority of today’s university students. He is a full- time student and is employed full time with BBVA Compass. 
“I am an honest person, I care for San Antonio’s citizens and I know what it means to work hard,” he said. Davila’s first job upon returning to San Antonio was at a local Barnacle Bill’s seafood restaurant. “A childhood friend that I kept in touch with over the years worked there and was able to get me a job. I needed anything I could get to pay bills,” Davila said. 
For the first few months of returning to San Antonio, Davila paid rent to an aunt and uncle with whom he lived.  Later Davila moved on from Barnacle Bill’s to work closer to home and school at a Valero gas station and Auto Zone. 
“I found a place with roommates, but I had to work two jobs in order to pay rent and bills,” Davila said. 
It was while working on a customer’s vehicle at Auto Zone that Davila caught a break. A manager from then Laredo National Bank (now BBVA Compass) asked Davila to go in for an interview.  He was immediately hired.
“Working within the community allowed me the opportunity to interact with a diverse group of people and because of this, I feel I am informed and sensitive to the needs of the people of my community,” he said.
Two of Davila’s biggest supporters have always been his parents. “My mom called me one day telling me that she thought of a campaign slogan for me, ‘He is young but his roots are strong. Invest in San Antonio’s future’” Davila said. His parents never set him limits as to what he could accomplish.
“I am very proud of him and how ambitious he is. When he was little he always had to be first…he always had to be the best at everything he did,” his mother, Janie Davila said.
 Davila’s mother has attended each of her son’s forums not only to show her support, but to offer constructive criticism as well.  “When I see him at these forums, he looks more alive than I have ever seen him; he found his calling,” she said. 
“I was always impressed with the choices he made, his choices got him where he is,” Davila’s mother said.
District Eight is one of the largest districts in San Antonio; it extends from the Medical Center to the Dominion. UTSA will have an early voting site on the 1604 campus. Early voting begins April 27, and continues through May 5. Official Election Day is May 9, and will be held on the first floor of the Main Building.