New chapter: Former Mission attorney sworn in as Place 3 council member

Former Mission City Attorney Abiel Flores took on a new role with the city after he was sworn in as the newest council member during a ceremony Monday.

Flores took the oath of office to become the next Mission city councilman for Place 3 and took over for Norie Gonzalez Garza, who served for four terms. Gonzalez Garza is in a runoff for mayor.

The former city attorney thanked his supporters and commended the supporters of his opponents for engaging in the election.

“They were people who wanted to participate in the process which we should all encourage,” Flores said. “I’m grateful that we had a selection but, of course, I’m more grateful that you chose me.”

Flores committed to taking the role seriously and said he was ready to accept the responsibility.

“It’s time to get to work and I’m ready to work,” he said.

In a tearful speech, Gonzalez Garza said her resignation prompted mixed emotions.

“I want to thank God, first of all, for giving me the privilege and the honor to serve the very loved city of Mission,” she said, praising the staff and the city managers she’s worked with over the last 15 years for what they’d accomplished.

“I’m not going to say bye,” she said. “I will always be here to serve the city of Mission in some capacity because it’s in my heart and that’s what I love to do.”

Her resignation was prompted by her decision to run for mayor in the city’s municipal elections, which were held May 7.

Out of four candidates, Gonzalez Garza received the most votes with 2,786 votes, according to the official canvass of the votes.

But because she did not receive more than 50% of the votes, earning about 37% of the votes, Gonzalez Garza and current Mayor Armando O’Caña will face off in a runoff election.

O’Caña received the second-highest number of votes with 2,541, or about 33% of the votes.

In third was former Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas, who received 2,114 votes. He was followed by Victor Anzaldua, a political science student, who received 154 votes.

The race for city council Place 1 is also headed into a runoff.

Incumbent Jessica Ortega received the most with 3,142 votes, or 43% of the votes, and she will be running against Moises “Moy” Iglesias who received 2,813 votes, or about 38%, in the May election.

Noel Salinas, a healthcare administrator, came in third with 1,367 votes.

In the race that elected Flores, he received 4,403 votes, which equaled about 62% of the votes.

Javier “Javy” Ramon, a former Mission police officer, received 2,426, while Joe Vargas, co-owner of TLC Pharmacy and Medical Equipment and chair-elect of the Mission Chamber of Commerce, received 276 votes as a write-in candidate.

The runoff election is scheduled for Saturday, June 11 and early voting will run from May 31 through June 7.

Before vacating her seat, Gonzalez Garza said she “couldn’t be prouder” of Flores, adding she expected he would do wonderful things.

“He’s a great man, trustworthy, intelligent,” she said, “he’s a family man and he loves the city of Mission as well.”