General Election ballot presents hope for much needed changes in city government; perhaps specter of issues decided outside of a Council meeting might rest its ugly head in the bone-yard of Open Meeting violations

The 2022 General Election, which will be held Tuesday, November 8, is shaping up with nine candidates vying for Mayor and 15 for the City Council seats for Districts 1, 2, 3, and 6.

Candidates for Mayor include Marine Corps reservist, former USBP agent, and small business owner Gustavo V. “Gunny” Gonzalez; business owner and former City Council member Roque Vela Jr.; Kobby E. Bryand; business owner and Laredo College trustee Cynthia Mares; former City Council member and former Webb County Judge Louis Bruni; former City Council member Alfonso I. Casso; physician Dr. Victor D. Treviño; realtor and Council member Mercurio Martinez III; and Felipe E. “Fliper” Ramirez.

The number of mayoral candidates in the race will likely result in a runoff.

Candidates for the District 1 seat for City Council, which is currently held by Rudy Gonzalez—are Webb County correctional officer Gilbert Gonzalez; Webb County administrative assistant Patty Tijerina San Miguel; Geovanna (Gigi) Rodriguez, whose work experience includes financial, budgetary, and managerial duties in government entities; and U.S. Navy veteran and middle school teacher Maxine Rebeles.

The District 2 seat currently held by Council member Vidal Rodriguez has three contenders—Rodriguez’s wife, Daisy Alejandra Campos, a Webb County community center director; commercial truck driver Richie Rangel; and Saul López.

Candidates for City Council District 3 are Texas DPS Special Agent Abraham (Abey) Lugo; assistant civil court coordinator and boxing trainer Gerardo Gabriel Perez; and community activist Melissa Renteria Cigarroa.

In the run for the District 6 Council seat now held by Dr. Marte Martinez are resident family physician Dr. David Tyler King, business owner L. Vish Viswanath, freight broker Fernando Baldazo, U.S. Customs broker Rick Laurel, and freight broker Rafael Dueñas.

Some of the best qualified candidates on the ballot present the possibility of much needed change to the instability that has gripped City government over the last year.

Imagine City business running much more efficiently and true to its goal if new Council members went through a thorough orientation, a real one that prepared them for public service and not private gain, an orientation in which they learned:

• How a City Council works with a City Manager.
• To keep public business open to public scrutiny; to adhere to the specifics of the Texas Open meetings Act, which was enacted by the Texas Legislature in 1967, to ensure that government is transparent, open, and accountable.
• That you cannot micro-manage City department directors to ask to speed up a project in your district or to hire acomodadas that repay political favors or give your deadbeat brother-in-law a job at Parks and Leisure.

This with the accompanying explanation: That practice—to hire someone far less qualified or completely unqualified at a high salary—demeans the experience, skills, and tenure of well-qualified City employees. It is but one reason morale has tanked throughout City departments and why there continues an exodus of capable, talented, and committed City employees.

SIDEBAR

Just saying: on Nov. 8 important to sift wheat from chafo

Take the time to be informed; ask questions.

You and the exercise of your right to vote are integral to electing principled, intelligent, and responsive individuals who will best serve the City as Council members, and you, the taxpayers who fund its employees, services, and infrastructure.

Don’t replace the termed out or exiting City Council members with spouses or clones of themselves.

With six women running in the City Council election in November, it is possible that a win by some of the most qualified could re-set civility and invite more informed discussions for the issues decided in Council chambers.

Imagine a City Council untainted by the specter of issues being decided outside of a Council meeting (in violation of State law). Imagine that taint resting its ugly head in the bone-yard of Open Meeting violations.

It is not yet known if it is the current City Council or the post-Nov. 8 Council with four newly elected members that will hire a new City Manager—all the more reason to elect Council members possessed of ethics, integrity, and sound judgment.

We all want an honest City Manager, a good communicator, a truth telling person who inspires efficiency and order—one who would never (ever) re-write job qualifications to match those of the unqualified individual he intends to hire for an important and well-paid position.

                                                                                     MEG