4 file for Hidalgo city council races

HIDALGO — Three members of the Concerned Citizens of Hidalgo and one independent candidate filed paperwork Monday to place their names on the ballot for May’s city council election.

Campaign signs announced weeks ago that local politico Rudy Franz, basketball coach Gustavo Sanchez and incumbent Councilman Dan Dillard II planned to run with the backing of the Concerned Citizens, a local political machine. All three filed the official paperwork Monday afternoon at City Hall.

“I think we all need to get back on the same page,” said Sanchez, who’s been the men’s basketball coach at the Hidalgo Independent School District for 11 years.

Until early last year, Hidalgo politics had been yawn-inducing. The Concerned Citizens of Hidalgo, an unofficial political action committee composed of elected officials from Hidalgo, Granjeno and two local school districts, hand-picked candidates and largely kept the politicking in-house.

A power struggle between Mayor John David Franz and his uncle, Rudy Franz, threw that arrangement out the window early last year. May’s municipal election, with three council seats in play, will be the first major test for both camps.

That political atmosphere persuaded former Customs and Border Protection spokesman Felix Garza to file paperwork for Place 1, where he’ll run against Sanchez for the seat being vacated by Siglinde Franz, the mayor’s mother.

“There is one family, in particular, that has controlled the city for almost 20 years now,” Garza said. “From what I understand, they basically decide who’s who in the city. Many citizens have come forward and have told me that they’re told how to vote, who to vote for.”

If city or school district employees don’t, Garza said, they could lose their jobs.

“It’s time for a change and I’m that change,” Garza said.

Garza said he’s concerned Mexican visitors perceive Hidalgo as an unfriendly place where they’re targeted for traffic tickets by local police and towed without reason by Rudy Franz’s wrecker company.

“And in order to avoid that type of treatment, they would rather make entry or exit through some of the surrounding ports of entry and they avoid the Hidalgo crossing,” Garza said.

Hidalgo needs to change its image to attract business, Garza said, adding that a bus terminal would be a good start and take advantage of the city’s position as a gateway for travelers.

Asked about his platform, Sanchez said he’s running to unify the city and end the now-pervasive political tension. Once he’s elected, Sanchez said, he’ll study the issues and decide what needs mending.

“For me to say ‘We’ll make this or that change’ — well, we have to look at it first,” Sanchez said.

Incumbent Councilman Dan Dillard II filed to run for re-election to Place 5. No one has announced they plan to run against him or filed for the place, though candidates have until March 5 to file.

Rudy Franz filed to run against Mayor Pro Tem Alvin Samano for the Place 3 seat. Samano hasn’t filed yet, but has said he intends to seek re-election.

--

Dave Hendricks covers McAllen and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at dhendricks@themonitor.com and (956) 683-4452.

--

TWITTER
Follow Dave Hendricks on Twitter: @dmhj