EDINBURG, RGV – Edinburg Mayor Pro Tem J.R. Betancourt has announced he will not run for re-election.
He made a statement saying it was an honor and privilege to serve on the city council for five years. The statement listed many of the accomplishments he is most proud of. He said he now wants to devote more time to his family and his business. He is a CPA.
Betancourt has been a loyal ally of Edinburg Mayor Richard Garcia.
Here is Betancourt’s statement in full:
August 4,2017
Thank you, Edinburg, for the five years you’ve allowed me to serve on the City Council. To say it was an honor and privilege is an understatement. I have enjoyed every single minute of it.
We are fortunate to live in a City that is revered not only here in the Rio Grande Valley but the entire state of Texas. We have come a long way and I know more success is sure to come. I am very proud of the work we have done to bring new opportunities to our City and this region.
With the help of the 764 committed and hard working city employees, we have kept ahead of the overwhelming growth Edinburg has been experiencing and I am proud of the many great things we have achieved during these past five years. Such as:
* Attracting thousands of jobs.
* An ordinance prohibiting texting while driving.
* Completed Phase I of the Downtown Revitalization Project featuring a promenade from 4th Street to Bth Street, connecting the City’s Downtown Square to City Hall and to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
* Commenced phase 2 of the Downtown Revitalization Project which includes an intermodal transit facility and an upgrade to the Mclntyre Railroad to improve safety when crossing the railroad.
* Expansion of the West Water Treatment Plant to upgrade the water treatment capacity from eight (B) million gallons per day to 16 million.
* Constructed an 84,046 sq. ft. state-oF-the-art facility Sports & Wellness Center that serves as home to the Edinburg Parks and Recreation Department and the NBA Development League Rio Grande Valley Vipers who use it as their training facility.
* Constructed an all-inclusive Police Training Facility of which more than half of the $1.2 million total cost came from drug forfeiture funds.
* Construction underway for an 8500 seat events arena at the corner of I69C and Alberta Road. It will be the largest events arena south of San Antonio.
* Commenced construction of Edinburg’s 5th fire station. the first on the north side of town.
* No property tax increase.
* No increase in residential solid waste collection rates.
* No increase in water. and sanitary sewer rates.
* 12 percent pay raise for all employees.
* Adopted the Valley’s first comprehensive city wide smoking ban aimed to protect the health and safety of residents by reducing exposure to secondhand smoke.
* Added City guest wi-fi services to city hall, auditorium, Splash Pad, and at Municipal, Memorial, and South Parks. I
* Partnered with RGVFC Toros for the construction of a 9,700 seat soccer stadium built on Raul Longoria Road. Only one of its kind in the region.
When I first decided to run for office in2012 my goal was to make Edinburg a
place where everyone would be proud to call home. I believe we have done that.
Edinburg continues to enjoy cost-effective quality city services and is poised to remain the perfect place to raise a family, to study, and to work. I will forever be thankful that you gave me the opportunity to help make our City better.
As my term comes to an end, I have decided that the time has come for me to
devote more time to my family and my business. A big thank you to my wife and
three daughters for their continued support and for never complaining when I
couldn’t be present at their school and extracurricular events. Please know that as a lifelong resident of Edinburg, my affection for this great city remains constant.
Again, thank you and God bless you!
J.R. Betancourt
