Special to the NEWS
Following elections earlier this month, the orderly transition of political power at the municipal level was on full display during a special meeting of the San Benito City Commission on Tuesday.
The first order of business was to canvass votes for both the May 2 general and special elections, with the official results announced by San Benito City Secretary Ruth McGinnis.
In the general election, Pedro A. Galvan (1,153 votes) won the mayoral race over incumbent Rick Guerra (571 votes).
Challenger Rick Perez (858 votes) unseated incumbent Thomas W. Goodman (805 votes) for the Place 1 post, and incumbent Deborah A. Morales (767 votes) lost to challenger Daniel Cortez, Sr. (906 votes) for the Place 2 position.
When Galvan decided to run for mayor, he gave up his unexpired Post 3 chair on the commission, triggering a special election. Victor Manuel Gonzalez (1,306 votes) ran unopposed for Galvan’s former seat.
Each was sworn in by different judges, some of whom shared touching stories about the winning politicians before a standing-room-only crowd, many of whom were family and well-wishers.
Mayor Galvan, who was joined by his family, was cordial as he described Guerra’s accomplishments with his commissioners, whom he led for eight years.
He said of the outgoing mayor, “I have big shoes to fill.”
Galvan had been commissioner for six of those years when Guerra was at the helm, juggling his career as a pharmacist and family man.
“I’ve done this job since 2020 with all my heart for San Benito; I dedicate my entire time, and my wife and kids lose that time, and the commission is going to mean that,” Mayor Galvan said. “We’re here because we love this community and want to see it prosper. It’s my job to continue what (Guerra) started, and hopefully I’m able to build this community with this commission in a positive direction.”
The most heartwarming comments came from the outgoing commission members, who expressed how much they enjoyed serving as representatives of San Benito residents and their love for the Resaca City, despite some voters deciding otherwise.
In Guerra’s final mayoral statement, he recognized the Cameron County Salvation Army and el Municipo de Valle Hermoso, Tamaulipas, Mexico (a sister city to San Benito). A bond was formed during his tenure, and he hopes the new commission will further strengthen it.
Morales, who served on the commission for three years, expressed herself in tears, especially when addressing various San Benito city employees and watchdog residents.
She noted that five months into her term, San Benito Police Lt. Milton Resendez was shot. One of her last duties as a commissioner was to attend the memorial highway named in Lt. Resendez’s honor.
“To the citizens of San Benito, I want you to know that I took everything to heart. Whether it was your concerns, criticism, or thanks, I welcomed it all,” she said. “To me, it was more than a title; it was about helping my community and making an impact, and I hope I did just that.”
Goodman, who also regularly gave the meeting invocation, did so again in the role of mayor pro tem.
He also broke down when talking about his family, who for generations have called San Benito home.
“I am truly honored. I have worked diligently and served to the best of my ability. I have lived in San Benito for 35 years, which is over half my life,” said Goodman, who served three years. “I have watched this community — the good and the bad. So I have another mission now, to protect our community and ensure those serving do so in the best interest of the community. There’s much more coming here.”
The meeting lasted just under 50 minutes.
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