Othal Brand Jr. back in McAllen mayoral race 

Othal Brand Jr. laughs with campaign staff at Fields Elementary on May 6, 2017 in McAllen. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

McALLEN — A familiar face has joined the mayoral race here. 

Othal E. Brand Jr., the son of the city’s former longtime mayor Othal E. Brand Sr., filed paperwork Friday afternoon for a place on the May ballot, according to election information posted on the city’s website. 

Brand, who also serves as president of Hidalgo County Water Improvement District 3, could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon. 

The McAllen native ran an unsuccessful bid for the seat in 2017 against McAllen Mayor Jim Darling, who is not seeking reelection this May. Brand spent nearly $200,000 on a campaign that was mostly self-funded and obtained 40% of the vote in what became an increasingly contentious race, but it wasn’t enough to defeat Darling, who obtained about 57% of the vote. 

Following his defeat, Brand said his messaging had played a factor in his loss and vowed to take a run at the seat again.

“You’ll see next election,” he told The Monitor in May 2017.  

His father served as McAllen mayor from 1977 to 1997.


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