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This upcoming election is an opportunity for each precinct chair to provide a better future for the Rio Grande Valley.
This election is not about old ways versus new ideas, it is about a new Valley having leadership that represents the everyday people. I am born and raised in Hidalgo County and I strive everyday to live up to the values of the Valley—hard work, faith in God, and a love for family and country. I am a migrant farm worker born and raised in Mission, Tx and am proud to say that I worked myself into a position where I now have the opportunity to be a District Judge in my hometown. I am not from an established family, nor am I a politician—I am new face with new ideas, new energy, and a vision for the future of the Valley. The decision of this election is simple, stay the way we are, or make the decision to give a real Valley native the chance to make the Valley what it could be.
The Valley is a formally rural place, now it is a growing region with a booming economy and population. The Valley of today is not the place our parents and grandparents grew up in. Those who have led us in the past have done an incredible job getting us to where we are now. But the Valley of today is so different; it deserves to have a few leaders that represent what it has become, rather than what it was—including our court system.
Our court systems have come a long way and require experienced leadership on the bench of course, but in addition, our bench needs an injection of new ideas. I support innovative and new policies similar to new judicial programs seen across the nation, such as “smart justice reform” and I plan to work on the installation of new technology tools to increase productivity and reduce costs. Individuals accused of small crimes that have harmed no one, do not deserve to have their lives scarred with a single bad mistake. And for those already caught in the judicial, I will establish an expungement court to specifically streamline the ability for the people of Hidalgo County to erase their criminal record, especially for those that cannot afford lawyers themselves. Our Veterans need to be taken care of as well, and I believe we need a Judge that understands their issues and has ideas to specifically support them when they find themselves caught up in the legal system. Our nation has a President that looks down on us, we need a judge with the knowledge and courage to stand up for us and protect us by fairly and intelligently using the laws available—I will do that. I am running to be the candidate that represents the Valley of today, not the Valley of yesterday. Our courts are packed with higher rates of crime, I have policy and practical ideas to streamline how the court handles those cases, as an Assistant District Attorney there were days where I would handle more cases in a single day then my opponents handled in an entire year. I know how to setup streamlined systems and to then implement them.
I also plan to establish a mental health court to better serve those accused of crimes stemming from undiagnosed mental health issues. This is a significant issue facing our community and nation, and our community demands a solution. My idea to establish a mental health court in Hidalgo County will include collaboration with mental health providers with the end goal of reducing recidivism and providing real treatment to help rehabilitate members of our community.
And it is not simply the Court systems that need new ideas and energy. The Hidalgo Democratic Party needs new energy and ideas now as well. I support the leadership and vision of the newly elected Chairwoman Norma Ramirez, and am willing to put my money and efforts where my mouth is to ensure the Democratic Party in Hidalgo County becomes as powerful and effective as the people of Hidalgo County deserve. I have pledged to be the first elected judge to become a sustaining member of the Hidalgo County Party, and plan to establish annual fundraising events to provide sustained mechanisms to support and fund both the party of today as well as the party of tomorrow. I understand that many of the Valley’s needs in the state and nation are ignored because of our low voter turnout, and I plan to utilize my position as a judge in combination with my new energy to address this issue. With a stronger and more organized party, the Valley will have the foundation and support to ensure that our voices are consistently heard during each election cycle moving forward.
There is a new dawn on the horizon to the Rio Grande Valley, the locally elected precinct chairs have the opportunity to shine the light of a better future on their friends and family by choosing the right candidate. I am a former migrant farm worker that represents the future of the Valley and I know I am the best candidate for this position. I ask all of you to vote for a candidate that will tirelessly work to serve all of us, I ask each precinct chair for their vote.
