RAYMONDVILLE — Texas Sen. Ted Cruz met in a roundtable discussion in McAllen recently to talk about border issues. This is what Willacy County Sheriff Larry Spence had to say about his meeting:
Q: Did you think the meeting with Sen. Cruz was helpful?
A: Spence: It was a good meeting. This one was a small group representing Border Patrol, local law enforcement and some of the groups handling people coming across the border. He talked to the press and then wanted to hear from each and every one the organizations that were there.
And we went around the room and did that. I’m glad we got invited and I’m glad I was able to be there, and be part of it.
Q: Did you report any information specifically to Sen. Cruz about Willacy County?
A: Spence: Mine was two-fold, representing Willacy County and being on the border and Texas Border Sheriff’s Coalition. I’m the first vice chairman. I presented our legislative proposal that we have to get some funding for the sheriffs.
It went well and it really seemed like Senator Cruz was interested. I told him more about our county and the issues we’ve been having. The fact we have a prison system sitting here idle and nothing seems to be moving on it.
Our area is close to federal courts and we take our inmates to Brownsville to court every day. We are hoping someone will come along on that line so we can have more money coming in to the county and jobs.
We are also having our share of farming bail-outs and property damages to ranches, and we wanted to pass those issues on as well.
Q: What did Sen. Cruz say that resonated with you about how he can help the Rio Grande Valley?
A: Spence: He said, like everybody, now his office is trying to work in a positive way with the people in the transition (Trump presidency) and doing what ever they can to help out. He said we’re there to help and we want to make it a smooth transition as soon as possible.
Nobody knows what’s going to happen; only time will tell.
