By Webb County Commissioner Jaime A. Canales, Newly Elected Second Vice President, South Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association
As a proud Laredo-Webb, Texas, U.S.A. citizen, I am honored to have been elected second vice president of our prestigious South Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association. I am also honored to serve alongside Victoria County Judge Ben Zeller, Hidalgo County Commissioner Joseph Palacios, and Calhoun County Commissioner Roger Galvan. I am truly humbled by the opportunity to represent South Texas. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Immediate Past President Galvan for his devotion to our Association. Finally, thank you to the selection committee and the Association for entrusting me to perform the duties and responsibilities of this important position.
I would like to take this opportunity to tell you a little about myself. As you know, I am a Webb County Commissioner. I am married to Rachel G. Canales, and together we have a beautiful daughter named Victoria Danae. I grew up in the great city of Laredo, Texas. My parents are proud Mexican immigrants who always worked very hard to give me and my eight brothers and sisters everything they could. Their example of love for family, hard work and dedication is a testimony of how I live my life and the person I am today.
I have been a proud public servant for 24 years in different capacities including teacher, school administrator, student relations administrator and County Commissioner. My service as an educator has given me perspective on how our Texas educational system and our county government must work in unison for the betterment of generations to come.
Although all counties serve different constituencies, in many ways our challenges remain the same. In Webb County, a steadily growing population has pressed us with the challenge of having to provide more services to our constituents, hence forcing us to use a more innovative approach to county management. There are counties across our region that share the same concerns. I believe that we must continue to reach out to our counterparts across the state and come together for this common cause.
There are many questions to be answered, but I believe that to better serve our constituencies, counties must have more local control and less state regulation. In addition, Texas must give counties the tools to help raise revenues so that we can adequately meet the demands of an increasing population within our boundaries. The task at hand will be easier when we come together in Austin and push our legislative agenda.
I would like to offer my special thanks to the great people of Webb County, for without their faith in me, I would not be able to do what I do today. I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to my colleagues on the Webb County Commissioners Court for their unwavering support.
I welcome all elected officials around the state, their families and friends to come visit Laredo-Webb County, as our doors are always open to you.
I wish you a year of great success! God bless all of you!