Two business owners vie for RGC commission seat [The Monitor, McAllen, Texas]

March 30--RIO GRANDE CITY -- Two local business owners say they can help move the city forward if they are elected to the city commission.

Dave "Chachi" Jones, a private investigator who owns a bail bonds company, is running against Juan "Andy" Hernandez, a home healthcare nurse and business owner, for the Place 4 Rio Grande City Commission seat. That seat will be left vacant by Ruben D. Saenz, who is running to keep his appointed County Commission seat. City Commissioner Rey Ramirez is up for re-election, but no one filed to run against him.

Jones is running on a slate with Mayor Ruben Villarreal with support from Ramirez. Hernandez is running independently.

Jones, 42, has run for several other local elections, including county clerk, district clerk and city commission. Jones said he has gained experience from his losses. He also served as a Starr County Democratic Party precinct chair. He previously ran as an independent and said he appreciates the support he will receive from running on a slate.

"Running independently in Starr County is a long shot. Been there, done that," he said, adding that running with a slate is going to "get me over that hurdle to finally be a public servant to the community."

Hernandez, 30, has served as the president of the former Greater Rio Grande City Chamber of Commerce, as the vice president of the Rio Grande City Main Street Program and with other philanthropic organizations, but he has never run for office. He also owns a Star Communication store and Underground World Tattoo Studio.

"I'm not for owing favors at the end of the day," he said of his decision to run independently. "I am something new. I am something fresh. I have a lot of ideas."

Hernandez said he can use his experience in the medical and business fields to try to bring more medical facilities to the area as well as educate the public about common health problems, such as diabetes.

He and Jones agree that they want to bring more business to the area.

Jones, a father of two who owns Chachi's Bail Bonds, said he wants to bring more jobs to the area to retain talented youth.

"I want to ...have our kids come back after college come back and establish themselves in Rio Grande City other than them leaving and having to find jobs somewhere else," he said.

Hernandez said he thinks the city should try to bring more businesses up from Mexico.

The two city commission seats will not be the only places on the May 12 ballot. Local business owner Arturo Lopez is challenging Villarreal for his mayoral seat.

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Gail Burkhardt covers Mission, western Hidalgo County, Starr County and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at [email protected] and (956) 683-4462.

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