Jerry Garza: a pledge to focus on families,
finances, and the future
Veteran public servant, business leader, and former television journalist Jerry Garza has formally announced his candidacy for Webb County Judge, outlining a vision centered on “Your Family, Your Finances, and Your Future.”
Speaking before a crowd of supporters, community leaders, and former colleagues, Garza shared a message of faith, gratitude, and commitment to restoring trust in local government while making it more responsive to everyday families. He made the announcement outside the Webb County Courthouse,
“Local government, city and county, is perfectly positioned to restore hope, to respond to people’s needs, and to make the present and future a little less uncertain,” Garza said. “That’s my why: to help as many people as we can and make their lives better.”
Garza’s platform prioritizes tax relief for working families, economic diversification, and modernizing county services. He called for adopting the no-new-revenue tax rate when possible or needed, ensuring that homeowners’ property taxes do not rise unless driven by new growth, and for reducing the county’s long-term reliance on property taxes by expanding the economic base.
“The current Commissioners Court has done an excellent job of saving and being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars,” he said, adding, “But our system ties us too closely to rising appraisals. We need a smarter, fairer, and more balanced way to fund local government — one that protects homeowners and still provides the services families rely on.”
Garza highlighted the urgent need to diversify Webb County’s economy, noting that roughly 75-percent of the region’s jobs are concentrated in trade, government, and healthcare.
“That’s too many jobs in too few industries,” he said. “Laredo shouldn’t just be a pass-through for trade. We can and deserve to be a hub for manufacturing and innovation. When our kids have to leave town to succeed, we’ve failed.”
Garza’s campaign message connects deeply with his upbringing and family legacy of public service. Garza, who was raised in a middle-class home, credits his parents and grandfather, retired Captain J.C. Dávila, for instilling in him the values of faith, honesty, and service to others.
“His lesson was simple: ‘Haz el bien y no te fijes a quién.’ Do good, and don’t worry about to whom,” Garza recalled. “That’s the spirit I’ll take to the courthouse.”
Garza concluded his announcement with heartfelt thanks to his wife, Maritza, and their children for their unwavering support. He closed with, “If I let you down, I let my own family down, and I won’t let that happen.”
Garza is a respected leader whose professional career spans public service, business, and journalism. He served two terms as Webb County Commissioner, leading the county’s legislative affairs team through four sessions of the Texas Legislature. He served as President of the South Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association, representing local governments across 60 counties.
He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Webb County Appraisal District and has previously served as a Commissioner for the City of Laredo Planning & Zoning Commission.
In the private sector, Garza is CEO of Genesis Financial & Real Estate, a firm specializing in investments, financial planning, and real estate strategies. Before entering public office, he spent nearly two decades as a television journalist, covering politics, government, and immigration along the Texas–Mexico border.
A lifelong learner, he earned multiple degrees, including a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, and a Master of Arts in Political Science. He is completing his Master of Science in Financial Planning.
In addition to his academic achievements, Garza has nearly a dozen professional licenses across the finance and insurance industries, including as a licensed investment adviser, real estate broker, insurance broker, and risk manager.
He has been married for 23 years to Maritza L. Benavides, and together they have four children — Jerry II (18), Alex (18), Arturo (15), and Daniela (11). A devoted Catholic, he is an active member of St. Patrick Church, where he volunteers as a parish council member, lector, and member of the Knights of Columbus.
C. Y. Benavides III: shape a community where businesses thrive, families feel secure, and young people can envision their future here
Laredo businessman and community advocate Carlos Y. Benavides III, known to friends as “C.Y.”, has also announced his candidacy for Webb County Judge, a position that was held by his father decades ago. He made the announcement at the Webb County Courthouse surrounded by family, friends, and supporters.
“My focus is clear: to help shape a community in which businesses thrive, families feel secure, and young people can envision their future right here at home,” said Benavides.
He was born in Laredo, to Eva Linda Rash Mann and Webb County Judge Hon. Carlos Y. Benavides Jr. He was raised in a family rooted in public service, tradition, and community involvement, His early education was at Mary Help of Christians School and at United and Nixon high schools. He later attended Sul Ross University, where he studied Wildlife and Range Management — an area that reflects his lifelong love of the outdoors.
Benavides has devoted decades to service, volunteering with a wide range of charities, civic groups, and youth organizations. The charitable work closest to his heart is his more than three-decade commitment to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Laredo. For over 40 years, he has served as a Board Member and President, and was awarded the prestigious National Medallion of Honor for his service to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. He was recently appointed Lifetime Director of Boys and Girls Club.
In 1997, he helped establish what has become one of the organization’s most important annual fundraising traditions, the Laredo Boys and Girls Club Wine Taste Gala. The 2024 gala generated $285,000, bringing total proceeds over the event’s history to more than $3 million in support of local youth.
He has also volunteered as a youth coach in basketball, flag football, and organized soccer, giving young athletes mentorship both on and off the field.
“I believe in a vision that delivers—one built on experience, commitment, and a deep love for our county and our citizens,” he said to his supporters.
He said his goals as Webb County Judge include:
• A reliable secondary water source so we always have clean, dependable water.
- Strong support for child development, education, and more access to recreational sports, because our kids deserve every opportunity.
- Quality-of-life projects that keep our talent here at home instead of losing them to other places.
- Better infrastructure to and around our bridges—because our growth depends on it.
- Encouraging development across the whole county, including responsible business incentives that make sense.
- Collaborating with state and federal officials to bring in more federal resources for our port and for strategic projects that can make our county stronger.
For more information on C.Y. Benavides go to cyforjudge.com and follow the campaign on social media.
