MERCEDES, Texas - Around 600 Valley Interfaith members and supporters attended the group’s 2026 Candidate Accountability Session at Knights of Columbus Hall in Mercedes.
Among the churches represented were St. Eugene de Mazenod, Proyecto Desarollo Humano, San Juan Diego, St. Anne, Mother Cabrini, Saint Theresa, Sacred Heart, Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Joseph the Worker, Holy Spirit, San Pedro, Grace Lutheran, Our Savior Lutheran, First Lutheran, St. John Lutheran, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Immaculate Conception Cathedral, San Ignacio de Loyola, and First Presbyterian.
Father Kevin Collins, of St. Eugene de Mazenod, told the Rio Grande Guardian that a Valley Interfaith accountability session is the reverse of a candidate’s campaign event.
“It’s the reverse of a campaign event. It's our campaign. I tell the candidates that they didn't come here for their campaign. They came here to hear our campaign. The issues that are important to us, especially the families, the working and poor families that are part of our institutions and congregations.”
The 600 attendees wanted to know if federal state and county candidates are in support of Valley Interfaith’s legislative agenda. Almost all the candidates who attended said “yes.”
The candidates in attendance were Bobby Pulido, the Democrat running for Congressional District 15, Willacy County Judge Aurelio ‘Keter’ Guerra, a Democrat, Guerra’s Republican opponent, Paula Anders, Mauro Garza, a Republican running for Cameron County Judge, Oziel Ochoa, a Democrat running for Texas House District 37, and the two candidates running for Texas House District 41, Democrat Julio Salinas, and Republican Gary Groves.
All the candidates said they would support Valley’s Interfaith’s agenda, although Garza, the candidate running for Cameron County Judge, said “yes, but” on the question of data centers.
Pulido was asked five questions.
Asked if he would help make Social Security more solvent by raising the taxable wage cap from the current $184,000 to $400,000 and also dedicate the capital gains taxes paid by high earners, Pulido said 'yes.”
Asked if he would work to exempt Texas for at least two year from the billion-dollar increase in SNAP costs imposed on the state by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, so that Texas can reduce its error rate in processing applications, Pulido said “yes.”
Asked if he would work to restore the enhanced tax credits that made Affordable Care Act coverage affordable for millions of low-income working families and older adults, which expired when Congress failed to extend them at the end of 2025, Pulido said “yes.”
Asked if he would fight to end the enforcement practices that criminalize honest long-term immigrants and work to pass meaningful legislation that reforms the nation's immigration system, Pulido said “yes.”
Asked if he would meet with Valley Interfaith within 60 days of taking office and continue to meet regularly afterward to follow up on these commitments, Pulido said “yes.”
Pulido received a round of applause from the audience as he left the stage. His Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, did not show up. Valley Interfaith leaders marked her down as “No” on all the agenda items.
"It's a question of respect: respect for the people, not me personally, but respect for the people. These are the people that are going to go vote and it's like they just had something else better to do than come along, apparently. Although we sent them invitations back in July. They've known since July about this meeting but they still didn't want to come," Father Collins said.
Texas House candidates Ochoa, Salinas, and Groves were asked four questions.
Asked if they would work with Valley Interfaith and other members of the Texas House to fully fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Texas over the 2028-29 biennium, Ochoa, Salinas and Groves said “yes.”
Asked if they would repeal the sales and property tax breaks data centers will enjoy for the next ten years and pass legislation to protect water supplies and keep electricity costs down, Ochoa, Salinas and Groves said “yes.”
Asked if they would work to increase funding for the Adult Career Education (ACE) program from the proposed $4.2 million to $10 million for the 2028-29 biennium so that more low-income workers can develop the skills needed for high-wage jobs, jobs that are in demand, Ochoa, Salinas and Groves said “yes.”
Asked if they would meet with Valley Interfaith within 60 days of taking office and continue to meet regularly afterward to follow up on these commitments, Ochoa, Salinas and Groves said “yes.”
Because Ochoa’s opponent, state Rep. Janie Lopez did not show up, Valley Interfaith leaders marked her down as “No” on all their agenda items.
Garza, of Cameron County, and Guerra and Anders, of Willacy County, were asked five questions.
Asked if they would work with Valley Interfaith to hold Military Water Supply accountable for upgrading its water system along Military Highway. Garcia, Gera, and Anders said “yes.”
Asked if they would work with Valley Interfaith to prioritize draining and flood protection projects in communities with long-standing needs, pursue local, state, and federal funding, and provide residents with a public schedule for construction and maintenance. Gaza, Gera, and Anders said “yes.”
Asked if they would oppose future county tax abatements for data centers and work with Valley Interfaith to require public disclosure of their water, energy, noise, and infrastructure impacts to residents before county decisions are made. Gaza, Gera, and Anders said “yes.”
Asked if they will meet with Valley Interfaith within 60 days of taking office and continue to meet regularly afterward to follow up with these commitments. Garcia, Gera, and Anders said “yes.”
Guerra and Anders were asked a different question about VIDA than Garza.
Guerra and Anders were asked if they would work with Willacy Commissioner's Court to maintain and increase county investment in VIDA and meet with Valley Interfaith and VIDA to set up a funding goal so more residents can complete training for careers with living wages and benefits. They both said “yes.”
Garza was asked if he would work with Cameron Commissioners Court to provide $100,000 in county funding for VIDA and work with Valley Interfaith and VIDA to support Cameron County residents completing training for careers with living wages and benefits. He said “yes.”
Because Garza’s opponent, Democrat Esteban Guerra, did not show up, Valley Interfaith leaders marked him down as “No” on all their agenda items.
Father Collins said he was delighted with the turnout.
“We are very proud and happy with the turnout. We had families from Willacy County, Hidalgo County, and Cameron County. We also had a lot of our students who are participating in VIDA, the Valley Initiative for Development Advancement. They're all working towards getting an education so they will get a much better job and provide for their family,” Collins said.
