Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina faces challenger Patricia Barrera, the former County Tax Assessor/Collector, in the upcoming March 6 primary. The highly charged race bears all the markings of a heated one.
Looking back on his first term, Tijerina said he held to his promise of transparency, accessibility, and fiscal responsibility. Referring to his post as “a job I love,” he said he is eager to begin his next term.
“I’m hanging my hat on not having raised taxes. We are the lowest taxing entity. We could have raised taxes and let employees go to help address the shortfalls we faced,” he said, noting the budget constraints — oil and gas revenues that decreased by $8 million over the last two years, spending $3.7 million in repairs to the Río Bravo water treatment plant, and subsidizing County employee health insurance by $3 million.
“It took us a year to clean up the disheartening situation in Río Bravo. Water is life. I won’t allow it to happen ever again,” he said.
“We are asking County employees to be better informed and more cost-conscious about health care procedures, generic drugs, and emergency room visits,” he said, adding that all departments are being asked to work at saving the County money. “We need to incentivize savings,” he said, adding, however, “We struggle most with the spending of elected officials.”
He said that a fifth international bridge is “a high priority, my main focus” one that would significantly bolster the County’s finances. “You’ll see this South Laredo project, the 4/5 bridge as it is called — moving at super speed over the next two or three years,” he continued.
Tijerina said Webb County and the City of Laredo would try for a dual permit for a bridge built on privately owned land in Mexico and the U.S. “Environmental studies are underway now,” he said, adding that the bridge would create explosive growth in Río Bravo, El Cenizo, and South Laredo.
“We are looking at building an outer loop to facilitate north to south traffic,” Tijerina said, and “We are in constant contact with our partners, both at the state and federal level, to see what funding is available to expedite infrastructure projects.”
He said he is opposed to the proposed border wall along the Río Grande. “That’s not who we are. Build more bridges. The river is its own barrier. You can’t fight what you can’t see, so find a way to keep it clean of carrizo. Make it a virtual wall,” he said.
Asked about the Condrey job classification and compensation plan implemented by the County, Tijerina said it is “a flawless, powerful tool” that has “stopped a runaway train” and brought parity to County employment.
According to Tijerina, financial constraints in his first term obviated being able to take on quality of life projects such as new fairgrounds that would replace the existing L.I.F.E. site on Hwy. 59. “There’s a 152-acre site near Cuatro Vientos just off Wormser Road that would be ideal for a facility with a sunken arena and good stadium seating. It would be available for many uses, including exhibits, fair activities, and concerts,” he said.
Tijerina said, “There is a stark contrast between my opponent and me. One who is running for the politics of Webb County, and one who is running for the people of Webb County. I have worked diligently to break the chains of the past and give this government back to the people of Webb County. I have managed Webb County as a business and not a political seat. I have kept my promise to Webb County and have put the people of Webb County first rather than a selected few. I promise to keep working tirelessly and propel Webb County forward for the betterment of our community,” he said.
Businesses go broke and go bankrupt everyday. Governments can never go broke.
Politicians who claim to want to run government as a business should go work for the private sector.
I want elected officials to operate our government effectively and efficiently. Taxes are the lifeblood of government services.