PHARR, Texas - The boundary lines for U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar's Congressional seat - TX 28 - have changed again.
Thanks to a redistricting push by Republicans, Cuellar’s district includes part of Hidalgo County again. He last represented the western half of the county three and a half years ago.
Under the new map, which takes effect next January, Cuellar has been removed from San Antonio. Instead the picks up 55 percent of McAllen, 35 percent of Pharr, and all of Mission, La Joya, and the smaller cities in western Hidalgo County.
Cuellar will represent the redrawn district if he wins re-election in November.
In anticipation of representing Pharr, Cuellar recently visited the Pharr Economic Development Corporation offices to learn more about the projects city administrators are developing. Among the Pharr leaders he interacted with were City Manager Jonathan Flores, Deputy City Manager Cynthia ‘Cindy’ Garza-Reyes, Pharr EDC President Victor Perez, Pharr Bridge Director Luis Bazan, and Pharr IT Director Jose Peña.
After the meeting concluded, Congressman Cuellar gave the Rio Grande Guardian an exclusive interview. He spoke about how he can help Pharr's projects. He also spoke about the impact of a recent US Supreme Court ruling on the Voting Rights Act.
“I may represent 35 percent of Pharr but I will support the City’s efforts 100 percent,” Cuellar told the Guardian.
Here is a video recording of the interview:
