Saying this will be his final political campaign, Nelson Wolff formally filed papers today to seek a fifth full term as Bexar County Judge, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
"I'm 77, I'm in good health, I get a lot of exercise, so, yeah, this will be my last go around," he said.
Wolff recalled filing for office as a Democrat for the first time, back in 1969 for a seat in the State House which he won in 1970
."I think there's a lot more anger out there today than there was in those days," he said. "A lot more disenchantment, for whatever reason."
Since then, despite losing two runs for Congress, Wolff has become one of the most successful and durable politicians in Texas, with terms in the State House, the State Senate, as Bexar County Judge and San Antonio Mayor, as well as the founder of two successful companies.
"The idea, back then, was that you worked together, whether you were Democrat or Republican," he said. "That's not the way today."
Speaking of Republicans, Wolff recalled that when he first ran for election, there were no Republicans in Texas. He says that began to change in the late 1970s when Republican Bill Clements was elected governor, and cascaded with the growth of the Republican Party across the South during the Reagan Administration.
In fact, many of Wolff's contemporaries, including former Governor and Energy Secretary Rick Perry, started as Democrats and then switched to the GOP. Wolff said he never felt comfortable with the idea of switching parties.
"I identify with a lot of Democratic issues," he said. "I have been consistent, I haven't jumped parties, and I don't intend to."