Harlingen mayor to hold fundraiser in Edinburg

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Mayoral candidate Norma Sepulveda is pictured Saturday morning, May 7, 2022, outside the polling location at Treasure Hills Elementary School. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)

HARLINGEN — Newly-elected Mayor Norma Sepulveda is holding a fundraiser at noon Wednesday at her friend’s Edinburg law firm.

On May 26, she held her first fundraiser following the campaign at The 83 Winery in Harlingen.

Sepulveda, an attorney who defeated long-time Mayor Chris Boswell last month to become the first woman to win the city’s highest elected office, will hold the fundraiser at attorney Amanda Saldana’s law firm at 1508 S. Lone Star Way, Suite 1, in Edinburg.

Sepulveda is holding the fundraiser to help pay off campaign debts and fund community scholarships and meals, she stated.

The fundraiser’s set contribution levels at $500, $1,000 and $2,500, according to the event’s invitation, which added checks can be made to the Norma Sepulveda Campaign.

The fundraiser’s invitation, paid for by the Norma Sepulveda Campaign, describes the event as “a reception in support of Norma Sepulveda, Harlingen mayor,” asking responses be emailed to [email protected].

Hosts set location

The event’s hosts set the fundraiser’s location, Sepulveda stated, describing Saldana as a “longtime friend.”

“The location of the fundraiser is determined by hosts,” she stated.

“Despite any differences with past mayors, we all agree that Harlingen’s success requires a regional approach,” Sepulveda stated. “We’re not in competition with our sister cities — to the contrary, a success for any of our municipalities lifts up all of us.”

Sepulveda stated the event is being held at noon because “the lunch hour is a convenient time for professionals to stop by.”

Background

During her campaign against Boswell, Sepulveda raised $65,499 while also taking out a loan for $3,500, according to her campaign finance reports.

Meanwhile, she incurred total political expenditures of about $51,326 during the period from July 2021 to April, the reports state.

“My public schedule remains public and transparent, as do my timely financial reports,” Sepulveda stated.

In the May 7 election, Sepulveda won 3,659 votes, or 60 percent, to defeat Boswell, who drew 2,388 votes amid one of the city’s biggest turnouts.