Casual In Harlingen...

 

By EDUARDO PAZ-MARTINEZ

HARLINGEN, Texas | Well, as The Beach Boys like to say at the beginning of their songs, we wanted to again introduce you to the Most Relaxed Mayor in the Rio Grande Valley.

Yes, Norma Sepulveda of Harlingen.

She's staying engaged since being elected last year. And the buzz words are "busy" and "casual," it would seem. Streets are being repaired, parks are being spruced-up, festivals are coming and going, downtown is getting a nice spotlight. Yes, you could say things are shaking across the Mid-Valley city of some 72,000 residents.

This from her Facebook page: [ No matter where I go, I carry Harlingen in my heart. 🧡 ]

We could harp on a few historical hiccups offered over the years by her predecessor, the erstwhile Mayor Chris Boswell.

McAllen's peripatetic mayor - Javier Villalobos - likes to get up and go and will throw on a pair of shorts and tennis shoes for outdoor activities, like for that World Pony League Championship the City of Palms hosted last week.

Over on the tip of Texas, at the end of the mighty Rio Grande, rookie Mayor John Cowen hasn't done much of anything. He's comfy in victory, I suppose. Perhaps it's too hot for him.

Let it out, Johnny.

Be the club, as they say in golf.

Or, better yet, look over and see what your governmental colleagues are doing up the Valley. You won't go wrong with following the P.R. footsteps of Mr. Villalobos or Mrs. Sepulveda.

That's her in the photo atop this post, by the way.

Casual, baby. That's confidence...

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