As I begin my term as Chair of the South Texas Alliance of Cities (STAC), our group of mayors is keenly focused on regional collaboration to address the challenges of our rapidly growing region, which stretches from San Antonio to Laredo and down to the Rio Grande Valley.
Among our key priorities for next year, we are planning to take a STAC delegation to Washington, D.C. in early 2026 to meet with federal officials to advocate on policy matters and increased funding opportunities to benefit our region.
I want to take a moment to honor the incredible leadership of former STAC Chair, Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza, Jr., and former San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg. Their dedication and vision have paved the way for our collective progress over the last two years. I look forward to working alongside Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones to continue our close collaboration with San Antonio.
As we continue this journey together, let's remember the values that unite us: a commitment to our shared economic, civic, and cultural interests. Our workforce is the heartbeat of our future, driving growth not just in South Texas but across our nation.
With the deep-rooted connections that bind our communities, we are poised to harness our collective economic and political strength. Together, through strategic cooperation among mayors, we will elevate the quality of life for all our cities. We are making this a transformative chapter for South Texas!
Editor's Note: The above guest column was penned by Brownsville Mayor John Cowen, Jr. The column first appeared on his Facebook page. It appears in the Rio Grande Guardian with the permission of the author.
