Mission welcomed a new city attorney this week.
Joined by his wife and two children, Victor Flores, a McAllen and raised-born attorney, was sworn in by Texas Supreme Court Justice Jeff Boyd Tuesday as the new city attorney for the city.
Flores, a Marine veteran, began his legal career in the McAllen city attorney’s office before moving to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. There, he worked for the city of Denton and then the city of Plano.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a desire to move back to the Rio Grande Valley to be closer to family. He and his family moved back down and began working for the city of McAllen again. He later served as city attorney for Brownsville before eventually taking the job in Mission.
His appointment as lead legal counsel for the city of Mission follows the resignation of former City Attorney Gustavo “Gus” Martinez in September.
With the position still vacant in December, Flores said he applied and was offered the position that month. His first official day with the city was on Tuesday.
“I’m a municipal lawyer, I don’t do anything else and like municipal law because it has the most direct impact on its residents,” Flores said in a phone interview Thursday. “I’m not in it for any other thing other than I want to give back to the community.”
Asked what assurances he would provide about his handling of the job, Flores said it would be to perform the job ethically.
“If I could give any assurance to the council it’s that I’m going to do my job in the most ethical, professional manner that can be expected,” Flores said. “And that’s what they can expect.”
During his swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday, Justice Boyd spoke highly of Flores’ character.
“He’s here today because he is a committed public servant and that’s why I’m honored to have been asked by him and immediately said yes, that I would love to be down in the Valley today to administer the oath,” Boyd said.
Mayor Norie Gonzalez Garza excitedly welcomed Flores to the city and onto their team.
“I am so looking forward to doing great things with Mr. Flores behind us and advising us; we’re all excited and ecstatic about having him on board,” she said. “I don’t normally use those words but I’m using them today because it’s the truth — we’re just so, so excited to have him on board.”
