[Hoot Gibson]

The Hispanic vote is not as monolithic as radical socialists in the Democrat Party would have us believe. Americans of Hispanic descent who live along our southern border want a safe, secure border, just like most other patriotic Americans do. In the 14th paragraph of the article linked below, you will discover that the new McAllen, Texas, mayor is a Republican. McAllen is a Texas border town, whose residents are overwhelmingly of Hispanic descent.

Villalobos wins McAllen mayoral election by just 206 votes

McAllen elected a new mayor on Saturday.

City Commissioner Javier Villalobos won 51% of the vote during the mayoral runoff election — and defeated City Commissioner Veronica Vela Whitacre by just 206 votes, according to results announced by the City Secretary’s Office on Saturday night.

“It was a tight one, so I congratulate my opponent,” Villalobos said. “It was a very well run campaign. But we’re very glad and fortunate that we prevailed.”

Villalobos held a victory party at his law office on North 23rd Street, where he thanked supporters and posed for dozens of photos.

The crowd included McAllen City Commissioner Tania Ramirez, McAllen City Commissioner Joaquin “J.J.” Zamora, Donna Mayor Rick Morales and former Hidalgo Mayor John David Franz.

Vela Whitacre couldn’t immediately be reached for comment after the polls closed.

All results will remain preliminary until canvassed by the City Commission, which plans to meet on June 14.

The mayoral campaign started in 2020, when Mayor Jim Darling said he wouldn’t run for re-election.

Villalobos and Vela Whitacre announced they would run for mayor. They were joined by businessman Michael Fallek, Dr. Shahid Rashid and Othal E. Brand Jr., the son of former Mayor Othal Brand Sr.

The five-way campaign brought more than 10,000 people to the polls in May.

Villalobos placed first with support from nearly 26% of voters. Vela Whitacre placed second with support from nearly 24% of voters.

None of the candidates received a majority of the vote, which sent Villalobos and Vela Whitacre to a runoff.

Villalobos, a 55-year-old attorney and businessman, is well known in Hidalgo County political circles.

He served as chairman of the Hidalgo County GOP, provided legal advice to local governments and mounted an unsuccessful campaign for McAllen City Commission in 2015.

Villalobos tried again in 2018, when he won a special election to replace City Commissioner Richard F. Cortez, who resigned to run for county judge.

During his mayoral campaign, Villalobos emphasized his experience in local government.