District 2 councilman McKee-Rodriguez announces birth of baby girl

SAN ANTONIO – District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez announced the birth of his baby on Tuesday.

McKee-Rodriguez’s baby girl, named “Sarai,” was born on Tuesday, according to a social media post on his page.

“She arrived in her own time, with quiet strength and a gaze that stilled us,” McKee-Rodriguez said, in part. “She’s healthy, safe, and already showing us who she is: curious, calm, and full of fire.”

In May, McKee-Rodriguez announced he and his husband were expecting their first child on Instagram.

In that May post, he said he planned to take an eight-week leave of absence from his duties as councilman to be with his child.

The leave will begin Aug. 1 and end Oct. 1, as per the City’s parental leave policy.

McKee-Rodriguez’s absence will take place during the City Council budget session where council members review proposals for numerous city departments with San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones — including Public Works, Animal Care Services, Human Services and SAPD. It is expected to last from mid-August to mid-September.

“I know how important it is that District 2 has a voice at every decision-making table,” McKee-Rodriguez said, in part. “That’s why, during my temporary leave, I’ll be requesting the appointment of an Interim-Councilmember to serve in my place.”

The District 2 councilman informed constituents in that statement that he planned to communicate and “stay connected” during his absence, as well as attend events whenever possible.

In June, the City Council unanimously voted to select Leo Castilo to serve as the interim District 2 council member in McKee-Rodriguez’s place.

Castillo is a social media and marketing manager for Thrive Youth Center.

The vote was a historic one, according to McKee-Rodriguez, due to Castillo being the first openly transgender man to serve as a public official in Texas.

Castillo was sworn in after the vote on June 12, but he will not begin officially serving as an interim council member until McKee-Rodriguez begins his parental leave.

“I think this just definitely highlights the fact that, you know, trans people are people, and we deserve every opportunity like anybody else,” Castillo told reporters. “And so, I’m just really excited to sit with that and celebrate that with my community.”