Texas House District 36 candidate Sergio Muñoz, Jr., signs on as supporter of Valley Interfaith's legislative agenda at an accountability session in McAllen on Sunday.

McALLEN, Feb. 8 - Texas House District 36 candidate Sergio Muñoz, Jr., has won the endorsement of political leaders in Pharr, to go with those he has already picked up in Mission.

Muñoz’s opponent in the Democratic Party primary, Sandra Rodriguez, downplayed the significance of the endorsements, saying the same Mission and Pharr leaders endorsed state Rep. Kino Flores, D-Mission, over her in 2008. Rodriguez comes from Pharr.

Both candidates discussed the endorsements and the significance of the vote in Pharr and Las Milpas in interviews with the Guardian at a Candidate Accountability Session hosted by Valley Interfaith at Holy Spirit Church in McAllen on Sunday.

“I think the endorsements are very important. It just shows the tremendous support that we are receiving,” Muñoz said. “But, it does not mean we can take anything for granted. We still need to work hard, knock on as many doors as we can, touch as many people as we can because this election is very important and it is the people that are going to be making the difference.”

Muñoz’s campaign issued a news release Sunday announcing the Pharr endorsements. Those backing the attorney include Mayor Polo Palacios, Mayor Pro-Tem Adan Farias and City Commissioners Francis Quintanilla, Oscar Elizondo, Jr., Eddie Cantú, Bobby Carrillo and Arturo Cortéz. Elizondo is Muñoz’s campaign treasurer.

“Sergio will be able to hit the ground running in the Texas Legislature because he won't be intimidated, discouraged, or fooled by anyone,” Carrillo said, in the news release. “He's going to do the legislative homework and hard work needed to succeed and he will speak the truth to our people. These are some of the high qualities that he shares with all of us here at home. He is one of us.”

Rodriguez, who lives in Las Milpas and is a former PSJA school board member, said she expected Muñoz to get the Pharr endorsements because many of the same officials supported her opponent in 2008. Rodriguez narrowly lost to Flores two years ago but did secure more votes in Pharr and Las Milpas

“They do not have all the Pharr endorsements. I know that I have at least two commissioners who have committed to my race,” Rodriguez said. “All I can say is that the endorsements he (Muñoz) has are the endorsements Kino had last time and we all know where Kino is today. So, it does not bother me, it does not worry me. I am working hard and going out to the common people, the people out in the community that need my support. Those are the people that are going to get me into office.”

House District 36 includes Granjeno, Hidalgo, southern McAllen, most of Mission, Palmview, Peñitas, and Pharr, which includes the colonias of Las Milpas.

Asked how important winning in Pharr is, Rodriguez said: “It is very important to me. I need all the votes I can get. I need the people behind me and the community behind me. I know that I have the majority of Pharr with me and that is important to me, to have everyday people out there voting for me. The common person out there, the grassroots people, are with me.”

Asked how important winning in Pharr is, Muñoz said: “Every city is important. Every vote counts. I think one vote can make a difference.”

The entire city commission in Mission has endorsed Muñoz, including Mayor Beto Salinas. Muñoz, an attorney, currently serves as Palmview Municipal Court Judge. He earned his law degree from Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston and a business degree the University of Texas at Austin. His father, Sergio Muñoz, Sr., represented the voters of District 36 in the legislature before Flores.

Rodriguez is a former public school teacher and probation officer. In addition to serving on the PSJA school board, she has also served on the board of the Palmer Drug Abuse Program, the Alamo Boys and Girls Club and the Vannie E. Cook Cancer Center.

Both Muñoz and Rodriguez signed on as supporters of Valley Interfaith’s “Investing in our Families” agenda at Sunday’s accountability session.

Muñoz and Rodriguez were asked three questions by Valley Interfaith leaders:

1a. Will you commit to maintain at least level JET funding of $10 million and work to increase it if the budget allows? 

1b. Will you commit to maintain the legislation as it is written and protect against any changes that would broaden the criteria from its original intent of providing matching funds for successful long-term job training for living wage jobs? 

2. Will you draft and file legislation that increases eligibility for CHIP from 200 percent to 300 percent of poverty and change the 6 month re-enrollment for Medicaid to every 12 months?

3. Will you fight attempts at passing Anti-Immigration legislation at a state level and support comprehensive Immigration Reform at a National level?

Muñoz and Rodriguez said “yes” to all the questions.

Muñoz was appearing at his first Valley Interfaith accountability session. “It was very informative and very educational. It was a great experience and I look forward to working with everybody here for the betterment of the district. We are going to continue to work hard for the families and future families so that this district continues to grow and expand and become more prosperous,” he said.

Rodriguez has appeared at Valley Interfaith accountability sessions before, both when running for the Texas House and PSJA school board. “I thought today was awesome. These accountability sessions are great. I welcome them. I am committed. I believe in Valley Interfaith and I am pleased they gave us this opportunity and that they hold us accountable,” she said.

Write Steve Taylor

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