Putting Helotes First—Every Decision, Every Day.
Sabrina McGowan is dedicated to protecting our community’s character and strengthening city government through open communication, responsible leadership, and practical solutions that serve everyone who calls her hometown, home.
The heart of Helotes is its unique history and small-town charm. Sabrina is devoted to preserving the cherished heritage of Helotes while steering us toward thoughtful progress that serves the needs of our residents and business owners—now and in the future. She believes Helotes can preserve its unique charm and thrive.
Raised in Helotes
Sabrina was raised in Helotes and moved back in 2020 to live and work in the place that helped form who she is today. She attended Helotes Elementary School, worked at El Chaparral in high school, took horseback riding lessons near the Marnoch Homestead, and enjoyed listening to concerts at John T. Floore’s Country Store – sometimes from her family’s backyard in Helotes Park Estates. Sabrina and her husband, Patrick, have been married for 17 years.
Leveraging Executive Leadership
Sabrina’s career has been driven by steady, trusted leadership, guiding teams through complex challenges by listening first, acting with purpose, and delivering meaningful results.
As a Helotes City Council Member, she leverages her skills and experiences to provide transparent leadership and a commitment to community-guided planning for a future that works for everyone in Helotes.
After graduating from the University of Texas at San Antonio, Sabrina began her career in public broadcasting at KLRN, where she learned the importance of building strong relationships, understanding diverse audiences’ needs, and delivering measurable results. She spent the next few years of her career advancing in the marketing and PR departments at organizations including CHRISTUS Santa Rosa, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. Sabrina moved to the Washington, DC area to lead PR and marketing strategies for one of the nation’s largest litigation firms. In 2012, she launched SQM Communications LLC, which provides marketing and communications services to organizations across a variety of industries.
Commitment to Service
Sabrina’s commitment to public service was instilled by her parents, Jacinto Quirarte, a founding dean at the University of Texas at San Antonio, and Sara, a homemaker, who settled with Sabrina in Helotes in 1972.
Sabrina has a long record of dedicated community service with organizations focused on helping people lift themselves out of poverty, homelessness, and food insecurity. Sabrina volunteers with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a ministry of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, which runs a food pantry in Helotes.
She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Historical Society of Helotes and the Dean’s Advisory Council for the College of Liberal and Fine Arts at UTSA.
Moving Helotes Forward
Sabrina has watched Helotes grow and understands the challenges and opportunities this growth presents for everyone. She supports smart development that fits within Helotes and the small businesses that are the backbone of our community. She is proud to represent Helotes and will continue to work hard to help ensure Helotes remains a great place to live, work, and visit.