PALMHURST, Texas - Ricka Tijerina says she will bring more transparency to city meetings if she is elected mayor of Palmhurst.
“I think that Palmhurst has used the fact that they are a small city for a long time to not let their residents know is happening. We don’t have access to meeting minutes, we don’t have access to any important documents on our website. I want to put everything out there. And I want to make sure that everyone’s voices are heard,” Tijerina told the Rio Grande Guardian.
Tijerina said she is taking inspiration from recent election results in neighboring Mission, which has just elected its first female mayor. Tijerina was at Mission Events Center recently for a swearing in ceremony for new Mission Mayor Norie Gonzalez Garza and Mission City Council member Jessica Ortega.
“I admire the livestreams of the Mission city council meetings. They are something I absolutely would like to do in Palmhurst. I'm looking forward to speaking with them and learning more, as I feel like this should be standard in all governments in order to keep every resident informed,” Tijerina said.
“I’m so excited to see what Norie and Jessica have in store for the future of Mission.”
The recent Palmhurst mayor election made national news because voters elected incumbent mayor Ramiro J. Rodriguez even though he had died before Election Day. Tierjina said Palmhurst voters voted tactically.
“The people of Palmhurst wanted their voices to be heard. They saw what they had in front of them and they knew that to get the candidate that they wanted they had to do what was necessary at the voting booth.”
The new election for mayor of Palmview is on August 10. Early voting is July 25 to Aug. 5. The winner will serve a four year term.
Tijerina said those wishing to run for mayor in the new election did not have to be on the ballot during the recent one.
“Anyone could throw their hat in the ring. Now we have four people who want to run. For a long while it was me and Israel Silva. Now we have Fred Del Barrio and Eddie Montalvo as well.”
At 27, Tijerina is the only candidate under 50 running for mayor. She is also the only woman. By profession she is an attorney, working for Hinojosa Law. The company has offices in Weslaco and Houston. “Every client is my family,” she said.
Asked if there was anything else she would like to tell voters, Tijerina said: “Get out and vote and make your voices heard.”
Here are more details on the Tijerina campaign:
Website: www.rickaformayor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RickaForMayor
Campaign Instagram:@rickaformayor
Personal Instagram: @reekahh
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickatijerina/
Editor’s Note: The above news story is part of our occasional Meet the Candidate series. Other candidates wishing to be part of the series should email: staylor@riograndeguardian.com.
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