Ernesto De Leon seeks county Precinct 2 post

Ernesto De Leon, 74, said he will seek the Democratic Party’s nomination in the March primary.

De Leon is the second former Brownsville city commissioner to announce his bid for the position. Last month Ernie L. Hernandez announced his intentions.

"I feel that my experience and contacts gained as a two-term commissioner for the city of Brownsville will make me an effective representative of the estimated 100,000 residents living in our precinct," De Leon said in his political announcement.

De Leon said his roots in the precinct are deep and go back further than any other candidate in the race. He said he has personally seen the precinct transformed from an agriculture-based economy. De Leon said the economy in the precinct is undefined today, heading in different directions that bear little or no relation to what the residents will need in the future.

He also supports green technology and says he will work on pilot programs for public buildings to utilize wind, solar and biomass renewable resources.

In addition, De Leon also said that the county needs to revisit its drainage system and develop a comprehensive drainage plan.

"At the heart of our needs is the necessity of implementing a comprehensive, countywide drainage system once and for all. Relying on irrigation ditches to drain off our water is no longer acceptable," De Leon said.

De Leon said he will not support new taxes and would work to reduce existing taxes, and promote regional cooperation to address drainage, economic development and quality-of-life issues, such as illegal dumping and stopping other sources of pollution.

De Leon served as a Brownsville city commissioner for six months in 1998, but resigned to run for Texas commissioner of agriculture. He was defeated in his bid for state office. However, he was elected to serve on the City Commission again in 2001 and 2003.