The mayors of five fast-growing cities in Texas tell state lawmakers to ‘get off our backs’

Rio Grande Guardian
BY STEVE TAYLOR
JANUARY 4, 2024

ARLINGTON, Texas – Arlington Mayor Jim Ross triggered a lively conversation at a recent YTexas summit when he called on state and federal governments to leave cities alone.

His comments triggered immediate support from his fellow roundtable panelists, including Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza and Brownsville Mayor John Cowen, Jr.

The discussion started when Ross was asked by the moderator to give an example of a day in the life of a mayor. 

“People do get upset with us from time to time. But I can tell you this. You could take all of our salaries and put them together and I would think somebody making hamburgers somewhere will make more money than us,” Ross responded.

“We don’t do this because of the tremendous amount of money we get. We do it because we want to give back to our communities.”

Ross continued: “Personally, I get sick and tired of people trying to push their political issues on mayors who just want to take care of their community. Our potholes could care less if you’re a Republican or a Democrat or an Independent. Our crime could care less what our political affiliation is. And I’m tired of our Congress, both in the state and in the federal government being a bunch of idiots and not producing for the communities the way they should.”

Ross said state and federal leaders should “get off their asses” and pay attention to what the mayors are doing. 

“Maybe you’ll find out how to govern. Maybe you’ll find out what’s important to our communities. And I’ve got news for you. What’s important for our communities is not the damn political party you’re affiliated with. What’s important with our communities is doing the right thing to bring jobs, to keep people safe and keep our roadways open. That’s what’s important for our community.”

Ross added: “So… leave me alone when it comes to your party affiliations. I have half the city saying I’m too liberal, half the city saying I’m too conservative. I don’t care. I don’t care. All I want to do is what’s best for our community.”

Edinburg Mayor Garza said: “I couldn’t agree more.”

Brownsville Mayor Cowen, also agreed.

“To reiterate (what) Mayor Ross (was saying)… talking about how this the state is continuing to take local control away from cities, making our job harder. I think that to me is a real threat to how cities can take control of their own destiny,” Cowen said.

“And so putting restraints on us will continue to make our state less competitive. I think that’s the real challenge for us, to make sure our state reps, our state senators, know how we feel. The cities are what make up Texas, right? I mean, we’re the ones getting the job done. So, I think we need to continue to have this conversation and unite and have our voice heard.”

Round Rock Mayor Craig Morgan was also in agreement. He urged the business community to help push back against laws being imposed on cities that are overtly political.

“I agree with everything that’s been said about this. But I think what we need is for the business community to stand up. They (the state government) are not going to listen to us (mayors). They think we’re just a bunch of whiners. We need the business community to stand up with us cities and say, look, leave the cities alone so we can continue to grow the way we need to grow.”

Morgan continued: “If they (state lawmakers) want to be focused on the nonsense, let them be focused on the nonsense. But we need help from our citizens. We need help from our businesses. Because it does impact you (the citizens).”

Morgan says he tells the local state representatives and senators in Round Rock that when they attack Austin, it hurts Round Rock also.

“If you really want to just target Austin, bracket the bills and leave us alone and let us do our job. We’re the economic engines of the state. Now, they’ve given us the tools, but we’re the ones on the ground, helping push it out with our businesses. So I just ask businesses to really watch these things and help us when we need you. Help us because they’re not going to listen to us.”

Bryan Mayor Bobby Gutierrez agreed with his fellow panelists.

“We do need to reach out to our state reps. We need reach out to our congressmen. In fact, I was talking to the congressman and said, look, I need you to pull all the liberties and all this stuff away from the state government just like they’re doing with the cities. Because at that point, maybe they’ll realize what they’re doing to us,” Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez said that as mayor, he has to answer directly to the residents of Bryan.

“When I walk out the door, people know I’m the mayor, I walk down the street, I’m there. I have to answer those questions every day. And those are the things that… they (the state legislature) is literally choking us out in the cities (from being) to be able to govern ourselves.”

Gutierrez cities like Bryan are progressive and doing big things. 

“We’re doing big, big things that affect the state and affect the country and affect our population of people there (in Bryan) as well. Those are the things that they (the state legislature) are taking away from us. Those rights that they’re taking away, we’ve got to stop them.”

Gutierrez said he agreed with Mayor Morgan of Round Rock that the business community has to get involved.

“We have got to call, just as you said, the business community, the people that write those checks for those (political) campaigns. I know because I write… I’m the one that raises money. When you write those checks, there should be stipulations. We expect this, we expect that.”

Mayor Ross of Arlington then added more commentary. He noted that there were a lot of business people in the audience.

“We do business with people that we respect and trust. You come to Arlington or Bryan or Round Rock or Edinburg, wherever, you go to places where you can respect and trust who you’re dealing with,” Ross said.

“Think about that a little bit. How many of us respect and trust our (state) Congress? How many of us respect and trust our federal Congress? We don’t. We don’t. Is that harsh of me to say? Hell it may be. But I don’t care. I’m tired of it.”

Ross added: “If we want business to continue to come to Texas, Congress needs to get their crap together. Period. And let the mayors, let the communities do what they do best. If I want to open a business in Edinburg, I don’t go to the Texas Congress to find out what’s happening in Edinburg. I go to the Edinburg mayor and say what’s going on down here and what do I need? That’s because he has his finger on the pulse of that community. So we only do business with those that we respect and trust and I suggest everybody else stay out of the way.”

Mayor Morgan of Round Rock concluded the conversation.

“So one thing to (add to) what Mayor Ross said. We host a bunch of national tournaments on the amateur level. We’re not professional but being centrally located… we have national tournaments (and they tell) us they will not come to Texas because of some of the stuff that has been passed (by the Legislature). That’s tourism. Those are sales taxes that help lower your property tax. So it’s real. I mean, we’re not up here whining. It’s real. And it’s concerning because tourism is huge for us. That’s how we get a lot of our money.”