MCALLEN, Texas — In a move to deepen regional unity ahead of upcoming state and federal legislative sessions, the South Texas Alliance of Cities is expanding its tent to bring county leaders across the Rio Grande Valley into its fold.
Following its annual meeting at Quinta Mazatlan in McAllen, city leaders announced that county judges from across the region will be formally invited to join the alliance starting at the next gathering.
The initiative marks a significant step toward unifying municipal and county governments across the four-county area.
“One of the things that we're pretty excited about — Mayor Cowen, myself, and the rest — is that we're going to include the counties now to become part of STAC,” McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos told the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service. “I think that's something that's important. We've always been talking about regionalization and community effort, so now we get the county judges in here.”
Brownsville Mayor John Cowen, Jr., agreed that bringing county leaders into the quarterly meetings will strengthen the region’s collective voice in Austin and Washington, D.C.
“I think it'll really help. Just really unifying the region at a stronger level, especially as we get into the legislative session at the state level and in Washington, D.C., as well,” Cowen said. “I really think I'm just excited about the leadership that we have in the region.”
In addition to Villalobos and Cowen, leaders attending the quarterly session in McAllen included Harlingen Mayor Norma Sepulveda and Edinburg Mayor Omar Ochoa.
During the meeting, alliance members received legislative updates and discussed pressing regional challenges, including water supply and long-term planning for infrastructure across South Texas.
Formed as a collaborative coalition among the Valley's major municipalities, the South Texas Alliance of Cities convenes on a quarterly schedule to coordinate policy priorities, economic development strategies, and legislative advocacy.
Cowen noted that alliance leaders hope to have all formal framework details in place so county judges can actively participate at the next quarterly gathering.
