Mike Mezmar
Position sought: reelection of Harlingen City Commissioner, District 3
Age: 62
Occupation: Financial Advisor, Financial Analyst, Retired family Nurse
Practitioner. I was a First LT. with the US Public Health Service. I was a Professional Caver and Archeology and Paleontology lab and field specialist. I was a trackman on the Aliquippa and Southern RR.
Education: Attended Penn State Beaver Campus 1 year, BS Nursing
University of Pittsburgh; MS Nursing Vanderbilt University
Community involvement: Active in his church, St. George Orthodox
Church; Chamber Ambassador; Board Member, Family Crisis Center of Northern Cameron County and Willacy County; Harlingen Rotary, perfect attendance for 28 years, multiple offices held including President; Makes and sells soap for the benefit of his church. FBI Citizen’s Academy graduate.
How long have you been a Harlingen resident?
I became a Texas and Harlingen citizen Sept., 4 1981—37 years. I have owned a home for 35 years. Yes, I pay my taxes promptly.
Do you think the Harlingen Convention Center project is a good idea? Why or why not?
I certainly hope so. I voted against the idea, the location, and the group. I hope that I am wrong. It is a go, so I root for its success and Harlingen’s success.
If Convention Center operations go into a deficit, what funding source should be used to cover it?
I am confident that Dan Serna, City Manager and our finance department will find solutions. Our city management is superior.
Should the city commit to developing an $8.5 million destination park, a so-called “super park?”
I defeated the idea of borrowing $4 million to build the park. Harlingen will build this park on a pay as you go basis. We have partnered with the Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation and recently deceased Rollie Koppel (may his memory be eternal). Partnerships are wonderful. The area around the ballpark and the auditorium is underutilized and needs improved. Harlingen leads the RGV in the amount of parkland per capita. In 2017 Texas Municipal League honored Harlingen with an award for our newly innovative parks and rides available to disabled children and adults. We lead the state. Others are following. These parks were another partnership with the HCISD and Sunburst Harlingen Rotary. Harlingen must expand our wildlife parks and recreation parks. Wildlife and birding is a large economic driver for Harlingen and the RGV.
What are your qualifications to be a city commissioner?
I understand economics and business growth. Our lower property taxes give citizens financial freedom. We are attracting businesses, small and larger to Harlingen. I have lived in three states. I have seen cities get into financial trouble and understand why. I have seen cities thrive. I understand why. I have brought Habitat for Humanity to Harlingen and Cameron County for the first time. Habitat has a building yard in Harlingen. This provides jobs here. They train HCISD and TSTC students in the building trades.
I applaud fiscal prudence. I have brought pay raises for City employees. I have brought tight security for the employees. I think and vote by myself. I ask questions.
Some believe merging the Metropolitan Planning Organizations in Cameron and Hidalgo counties would give cities here more money. Others believe Cameron County cities would be ceding too much control over highway money to Hidalgo County because board positions would be allocated according to population. What is your position?
Before signing any agreement, we need to guarantee that Harlingen, San Benito and Cameron County are fairly and equitably treated. Mezmar supports the Harlingen area and the RGV. He believes in fairness for all.
What other important issues face the city of Harlingen and how would you address them?
As Harlingen grows, we need the resources to provide the necessities and niceties that continue to make Harlingen a very nice place to live. We need all of the amenities. We need to maintain fiscal prudence. Too many municipalities rely on extreme debt. Wisdom in leadership is necessary. Employees’ benefits and pay, a modern airport, competent water and sewer service, speedy garbage service, new roads, roads maintenance, parks and leisure all need attention. Plan for the best, prepare for the worst.
Richard Garza
Position sought:
Harlingen City Commissioner District 3
Age: 45
Occupation: Business Owner
Education: Harlingen High School; 1990
Attended Texas A & I Kingsville
Community involvement:
National Rural Health Association Member - 2012 to 2015
Mr. Amigo Association President - 2016 to 2017
Brownsville Museum of Fine Arts Board Member; Vice President - 2010 to 2014
How long have you been a Harlingen resident?
I have been residing in Harlingen for the past 12 years.
Do you think the Harlingen Convention Center project is a good idea? Why or why not?
I don’t think the Harlingen Convention Center is a good idea because this project was approved without any thorough research and background information. I believe the current administration and the City of Harlingen will be using taxpayers money to cover its operating expenses and any other costs associated with this project. On another note, the public (the citizens of Harlingen) did not vote on a Convention Center. I believe that this project should have gone to the voters for approval. I would have liked to have seen a much better business plan and timeline of events for implementation.
If Convention Center operations go into a deficit, what funding source should be used to cover it?
The funding source should not come from the taxpayers of Harlingen. If this is a bad business opportunity, those who voted for it should be held accountable and liable for its operations and future. It should be paid for by the Mayor and the Commissioners who advocated for the Convention Center.
Should the city commit to developing an $8.5 million destination park, a so-called “super park?”
The City of Harlingen should not commit to develop a “super park” because we will be using these funds to offset the loss to support the Convention Center and its deficit. We should use these funds to strengthen our infrastructure, streets, draining, and our public safety personnel and equipment. We should also invest in a project that will provide us with revenue. We should have an entertainment or amphitheater park (like the Dodge Arena) and solicit singers and artists to come to Harlingen and occupy our hotels and eat at our restaurants.
What are your qualifications to be a city commissioner?
My qualifications are that I can provide a sense of vision that comes with leadership. I am committed to representing not only District 3 of Harlingen, but the entire City, and the best interests of our community and its taxpayers. I have the ability to strengthen Harlingen and unite our community. I also have domestic and international business experience with good judgment and be a voice of the citizens and advocate for a better quality of life, affordable housing, and public safety.
Some believe merging the Metropolitan Planning Organizations in Cameron and Hidalgo counties would give cities here more money. Others believe Cameron County cities would be ceding too much control over highway money to Hidalgo County because board positions would be allocated according to population. What is your position?
My position is to work with City and County governments accordingly to create an agreement that would allow the City of Harlingen and the local surrounding cities to benefit from an equal amount of resources and funding. We need to consider creating a Cameron County MPO so we can work amongst them and ourselves to benefit our community. At the end of the day, if we don’t work together nothing will be accomplished and no one will benefit and the ones impacted are the citizens and the taxpayers of our community.
What other important issues face the city of Harlingen and how would you address them?
The other important issues that Harlingen face are ensuring our law enforcement and first responders are properly trained and have the adequate equipment to protect our community. Our residents, businesses, and our employees must feel safe in our community and have the confidence in our elected officials of a commitment to a vision. We also must have a transparent government that inspires community involvement. I have spent so much time already evaluating our community and we need someone that is loyal and dedicated and that will fight for strengthening our infrastructure, our downtown needs, our properties, and environment. Let’s make sure we reinvest in our people so children can afford to work, live, and stay in Harlingen.