By DINA ARÉVALO
Port Isabel-South Padre Press
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com
The Port Isabel South Padre Press is proud to co-host a “Candidate’s Night” to allow the Laguna Madre community an opportunity to hear from those seeking office.
The forum is a joint effort between several organizations. It is being spearheaded by the non-profit and bipartisan group, the Port Isabel Taxpayers League (PITL), in partnership with the PRESS, the South Padre Island Board of Realtors and Concerned Citizens.
Invitations have been extended to all the candidates running for city office in Port Isabel and for trustee seats on the Point Isabel School District Board of Trustees.
The event will take place on Thursday, April 21 at the Port Isabel Event and Cultural Center located at 309 Railroad Ave. City candidates will address attendees at 6 p.m., while school district candidates will do so at 7:15 p.m.
The candidates will respond to questions from a panel of four, with a three minute time limit per question. The forum will not be a debate, but rather, each candidate will be given an opportunity to answer the same questions.
A timekeeper will monitor the responses for time.
The panel will be composed of PITL representative Gary Snyder, who is chairing the event; Ebbie Ahadi, with Concerned Citizens; Gayle Hood, with SPI Realtors; and Dina Arévalo, editor of the PRESS.
“It’s important because the electorate needs to know their candidates so they can make an informed decision,” Snyder said of the forum.
As of press time it was confirmed that mayoral candidate Maria de Jesus “M.J.” Garza will not be in attendance, as she will be out of the country. Attendance confirmation of some of the other City and school district candidates was pending, as well. The event will continue, nonetheless.
The PRESS is seeking the community’s help in creating a list of questions. Since our publication is tasked with reporting on local government for the benefit of the community at large, we want to know what questions you would like to see candidates answer.
If you have a question you’d like to submit for consideration, please send an email to editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com or call our offices at (956)943-5545. The PRESS reserves the right to edit the final list of questions.
Flyers for the event have been placed across the Laguna Madre region, including Port Isabel City Hall, Laguna Vista Town Hall, and the administration buildings for the school district and water district, among others.
For more information on the candidates’ night, please call Gary Snyder at (956)433-6845.
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