Three vie for San Juan mayor’s seat

SAN JUAN - Mayor San Juanita Sanchez's supporters considered her a reformer when she campaigned for office three years ago.

Now, the 44-year-old needs to prove to voters they made the right choice as she vies for a second term as mayor.

City Commissioner Pedro Contreras, 29, and a slate of candidates that includes commissioner candidates Bob Garza, 43, and Lupe Rodriguez, 56, are challenging Sanchez and her running mates, Ignacio Almaguer, 34, and Alma Prado, 54.

Former city commissioner Eleazar Romero, 70, is also vying for the mayoral office, after serving in city elected positions off and on the past couple decades. His slate of commissioner candidates is made up of George Rodea, 53, and Mario Garza, 32.

Early voting is scheduled to run April 28 to May 6. Election Day is May 10. Nobody vying for city commission is an incumbent.

Sanchez

Sanchez touts the city's financial stability, which has improved since her election, as an indication of her success as mayor.

She also points to the development known as San Juan Corners, poised to become the city's largest retail center.

She said during her next term she wants to help the city land a new library and police headquarters. And she wants the city to pursue a comprehensive plan to determine future land use and economic development.

"We're definitely now moving in the right direction," said Sanchez, an attorney.

Almaguer is an insurance salesman, and Prado a retired school principal.

Contreras

Contreras said he's vying for office because of what he sees as a personnel crisis in City Hall.

He said layoffs and resignations have decimated the staff; he wants to focus on bringing qualified professionals to work for the city and on training existing personnel.

Like Sanchez, he too has cited his desire to build a new police station to meet the needs of the growing city.

Contreras, who works for the PSJA districts nutrition department, has also promoted his desire to create a television station like that of neighboring Pharr to air municipal programs such as meetings. And he wants to help revive the city's chamber of commerce.

"Everybody knows the key is to bring in business," Contreras said.

Running mate Garza is a loan officer, and Rodriguez is a right-of-way agent for Hidalgo County.

Romero

At 70 years old, Romero is nearing retirement from his position as the director of PSJA's migrant program and will have time to work for the city, he said.

He said the city is filled with garbage and he wants to improve trash service.

He also believes residents are growing frustrated with a lack of communication from city leaders.

As a commissioner who first served in office in 1984, he's proud of the city's economic development.

He said if he's elected, he'll immediately analyze the city's financial and infrastructure situation and work to assist the police in any way possible.

Rodea is a retired banker, and Garza is a county probation officer.

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Ryan Holeywell covers PSJA and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956) 683-4446.