EDINBURG — The daughter of a former mayor here will run against Mayor Richard H. Garcia in November.
Gina Marie Alamia, 37, wants what was once her father’s seat.
Alamia is the daughter of former Edinburg Mayor Richard Alamia, who served two terms from 1981 to 1987.
“I decided to run for mayor because I felt I saw Edinburg had lost its sense of life,” the political newcomer said. “I pretty much want to fight the corruption — if people want to believe or not, it’s there. It might as well start with me.”
Alamia considers herself an underdog because she’s never held office, but she believes she is well-suited for the positions.
“I don’t feel like I’m the underdog as far as qualifications,” she said.
The 37-year-old graduated from Texas A&M University in 2002 with a bachelor’s in speech communication and a minor in English. She went on to become marketing director for Embassy Suites in Austin before turning her attention to education, where she spent another nine years.
Alamia holds two teacher certifications for speech communication and English language arts and reading, she said. She also spent seven years working as a consultant for the national College Board, where she taught SpringBoard curriculum for standardized tests.
She currently works at her father’s law firm in Edinburg, where she serves as an immigration consultant and brief writer.
“I’ve used a lot of my own expertise and resources,” she said about her campaign, adding she has yet to fundraise.
Her platform focuses on three main issues: ethics reform, property tax exemptions, and city and taxpayer collaborations.
“We’re in this together,” she said. “One person does not run this city. It’s the people that elect… so they (elected officials) should set the example of how people should be treated.”
Alamia alleged Garcia is less than courteous to taxpayers.
“He’s been very condescending and arrogant to taxpayers and people of the community that have elevated him to office,” she said of her opponent. “No matter who you are, whatever gender you are, you should be treated equally regardless if you’re educated or not.”
She invited the community to attend a meet and greet set for June 17 at 206 W. Stubbs St, where she will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“Have a hot dog while meeting the underdog for mayor,” she said.
