Candidates for City Commission face off in forum today

HARLINGEN — The race is on for the May 5 election.

Tonight, candidates for the City Commission’s District 3, 4 and 5 positions face off in a candidates forum hosted by the Harlingen Area Chamber of Com-merce.

The forum at the Harlingen school district administration building will be moderated by the Rio Grande Guardian, with Editor Steve Taylor posing questions to the candidates.

The forum will offer candidates five minutes to make opening statements while giving them three minutes to answer questions.

“The Harlingen Chamber believes in a well-informed and politically-engaged business community,” the Chamber stated.

“The purpose of this forum is to keep the entire community informed on local issues. Voters of Harlingen will have the opportunity to learn more about the candidates and their views.”

In the race for the District 3 seat, two-term incumbent Michael Mezmar, a financial analyst, faces businessman Richard Garza.

Meanwhile, District 4 one-term incumbent Ruben de la Rosa, an instructor at Texas Southmost College, faces former Commissioner Basilio “Chino” Sanchez, a retired newspaper production technician.

Yesterday, Sanchez said he would not attend because neither the forum nor the chamber is located in District 4.

The election will be a rematch of the 2015 race, where de la Rosa defeated Sanchez by three votes.

In the race for the District 5 post, two-term incumbent Victor Leal, who runs a computer sales and service business, faces Jim Young, an attorney who serves on the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission.

Early voting runs from April 23 to May 1.