By EDUARDO PAZ-MARTINEZ
HARLINGEN, Texas | You can roll into this mid-Valley city for a quick breakfast at fabled Las Cazuelas and feel the itchy vibe of a New Harlingen. Things are shaking here, here being a city forever solely known as the one between happening McAllen and rowdy Brownsville.
Yep, it's been a few months since attorney Norma Sepulveda (see photo above) ousted longtime air-conditioned Mayor Chris Boswell from that comfortable leather highback chair at City Hall. The ground shaking was felt all across the magical Rio Grande Valley as she defeated him handily. Convincingly, some said.
The attractively-Catholic Ms. Sepulveda, an Ana Gabriel lookalike if my eyes do not betray me, is all-in on the idea of seeing her usually "after-thought" city fast-bloom into something more, something better. Boswell's long reign had its positives, mainly championing and adhering to that old standard of maintaining the peace and working to grow the community. But, after some 18 years in office, Boswell bored many in town there near the end.
McAllen, The City of Palms, to the west is its usual steady, progressive community. Over on the Valley's far east side, Brownsville's perennial war against change keeps its residents wondering, if not entertained. Unlike Harlingen's calm city politics, Brownsville's more-feisty politicians will go for the jugular in any given campaign and bad news be damned.
The 46-year-old Ms. Sepulveda, an immigration attorney by profession, is pushing the essence of full-bore "community." She loves her city deeply and it is in governance that she plans to show it.
"I'm humbled by the amount of interest and support my inaugural State of the City has received over the last few months," she said recently, ahead of tonight's State of The City address - her first. "With the help of our generous sponsors, we have met our goal of providing a SOTC that is both accessible and inclusive. Together, we are transforming Harlingen into a community-centered City for all! I cannot wait to update you on the progress we have made in such a short time and our plans for the future!"
You can almost predict the full definition of optimism she will express in her speech.
The new mayor proudly notes that her team found a way to lower the cost of attendance for local citizens, from the $75 per person charged during previous Mayor Boswell's administration to tonight's $25 admission.
Will she be enough to change this city's fortunes? That valleywide reputation as a "Republican" stronghold may not be its biggest local problem, but Hispanic residents of other RGV cities and towns see Harlingen as not quite "valley," as a bastion for the Anglo valleyite (not that there's anything wrong with being Anglo). Still, the effort to see Harlingen as an all-inclusive city is real. Mayor Sepulveda seems to say that at every opportunity.
Yes, it's a new day and a new game in town. For days and weeks after arrival of a new administration, well, the drill had it that everyone was to smile. Outwardly, Harlingen seems to be a quite-happy town. Our measure: The cling-cling clatter at breakfast of silverware at a busy, popular restaurant never lies. Cheerful waitresses complete the picture. Great grub sets you up for a nice day. Who's got time to go negative. Not today.
Mayor Sepulveda will do her duty. She is the first female mayor of Harlingen, an eye-opener development (advance?) these days, I know.
So much promise, yes, and, well, we all know the history of political promises around here.
It is a word selfish, do-nothing politicians use and abuse.
With any luck, the people of staid Harlingen will see a bit of promise come to fruition...
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