BROWNSVILLE, Texas - For one week only, Brownsville Navigation District will have four commissioners rather than five.
This is because David A. Garcia, top vote getter for Commissioner Place 2 in the recent election, was not sworn into office at BND’s May 13, 2026 board meeting. One of the other two candidates for Place 2, Shariff Gonnella has called for a recount.
Garcia secured 4,304 votes. Gonnella secured 2,455 votes. The recount is expected to take place on Saturday, May 16, overseen by Cameron County’s Elections Division.
At the May 13 board meeting, Luis H. Villarreal, Jr., the top vote getter in the Commissioner Place 4 election, was sworn into office by former state Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr., one of his mentors.
Also at the meeting, two commissioners, Chairman Steve Guerra, and John Wood, the longest-serving commissioner, stood down. Port of Brownsville CEO William Dietrich read proclamations in their honor.
Here are highlights from the meeting:
