SNAPSHOT: HENRY GONZALEZ
Henry Gonzalez has been on the City Commission, either as mayor or commissioner, for 10 of the last 15 years. As such, he has been part of the body that has enacted most of the city’s major projects in that time.
Asked what items bring him the most satisfaction, he said, “A lot of things.”
Highest on his list is the city’s fiscal progress.
“We went from a fund balance of $360,000 to a fund balance of $9 million,” he said. “We went to New York and walked into a meeting with Moody’s (bond rating service) and talked to them, and they changed our rating, and that helped us generate a lot of money.”
Higher ratings suggest better financial position and enable cities to sell bonds and other debt at lower interest rates, which can mean millions in savings over the life of a large note.
Gonzalez also takes credit for helping get the Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomates approved, which redirected freight traffic away from the Gateway International Bridge and eased congestion caused by semi-trailers waiting to cross the downtown bridge.
Another major accomplishment, he said, was being host city for the 16th Border Governors Conference in 1998.
“We had all the governors from all the border states in the United States and Mexico in our city talking about how to make our two countries better,” Gonzalez noted.
Other sources of pride include the extension of Expressway 77/83 and the International Boulevard overpass, establishment of Veterans Park on Central Boulevard, the renovation of Dean Porter Park and “Make a Difference Day,” a citywide cleanup and community improvement effort.
“We had a real good commission,” Gonzalez said. “Everybody was pro-Brownsville.”
Less auspicious was the city’s investment in the old Brownsville Country Club. Renamed the Brownsville Golf Center, the facility has been a constant drain on city funds. Gonzalez said officials can’t dwell on negatives any more than they can rest on successes.
“Sometimes, things don’t work out,” the former mayor said. “But we went on to the next item.”
The decision to seek the mayor’s job again wasn’t his alone, he said.
“I’ve been out for four years,” said Gonzalez, who gave up his seat on the City Commission to run an unsuccessful mayoral campaign in 2003. “I’ve had a lot of people ask me to get involved.”
Some recent administrations have been known for contentious relationships among the various members. As a commissioner, Gonzalez often butted heads with then-Mayor Pat Ahumada, and ideological splits also plagued the commission in 2004-2005, when Gonzalez was not a member.
Currently 71, Gonzalez has spent the past four years focusing on his Oyster Bar chain of restaurants.
He expressed confidence that the commission can work well together if he’s in charge.
“I don’t deal with personalities; I deal with accountability,” he said. “If they’re (commissioners) for Brownsville, we’ll work pretty good together.”
Gonzalez on the Issues
Leadership: “I can work with anybody who’s working for the best interests of the city.”
Impact fees: A reasonable fee would be $2,100. Developers could pay $500 up front and the rest when they sell the property.
Utility rates: Must be fair to everyone.
Benefits: Was mayor when commission voted to accept benefits and still holds family policy.
