BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Leaders in the world of education in the Rio Grande Valley pitched questions to Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar at an event in Brownsville on Dec. 30.
Those leaders included Texas Southmost College President Jesús Roberto Rodríguez, UT-Rio Grande Valley Vice President Veronica Gonzales, and Brownsville ISD interim Superintendent Jesús H. Chavez.
Hegar spoke at a Brownsville Chamber of Commerce luncheon held at Brownsville Events Center. The event was titled: “Texas Talks: A Luncheon with Comptroller Glenn Hegar – Navigating Fiscal Frontiers.”
Responding to Chavez’s question, Hegar said he was a big supporter of public education, having sent his children to public schools.
"I don't think the state of Texas can meet the economic opportunities in the future without having a quality public education system. My kids are in it. They thrived in it. You know, not everything is for everybody. But the point being is there's no way we can succeed in growing economically if we don't have a quality public education system. That is the vast majority of where kids are being taught. And they will continue to be for quite some time," Hegar said.
Chavez told the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service later that he was pleased with Hegar’s response. "We have always known Comptroller Hegar is a big supporter of public education," Chavez said.
Hegar also took a question about liquefied natural gas, from veteran broadcaster Ron Whitlock, broadband infrastructure, from Brownsville City Manager Helen Ramirez, and industry innovation, from Andrea Figueroa Benton, head of community relations for NextDecade/Rio Grande LNG.
Editor's Note: Here is an audio recording of the Q&A session with Comptroller Hegar:
