In anticipation of new university and medical school, City Council, Edinburg EDC bolstering presence before UT System Board of Regents By DAVID A. DÍAZ Legislativemedia@aol Strengthened by a landmark state legislative session that featured the planned merger of the Valley’s two major universities and the creation of a University of Texas medical school in Edinburg, local leaders are not content to rest on their achievements. On Wednesday, July 10, a delegation of elected leaders, spearheaded by Mayor Richard H. García and Agustín “Gus” García, Executive Director for the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation, are scheduled to attend the quarterly meeting in Austin of the UT System Board of Regents. High on Edinburg’s agenda is to show their support for UT System Regent Ernest “Ernie” Aliseda of McAllen, a South Texas attorney, former Hidalgo County district court judge, and former Edinburg resident who is making his first session as a member of that powerful governing board. In addition, the Board of Regents and top UT System officials are scheduled to discuss and take appropriate action regarding proposed guiding principles for the new, comprehensive university for deep South Texas to be created as the result of Senate Bill 24 – legislation that was supported by Edinburg. SB 24 will unite UT-Pan American and UT-Brownsville into one major system, complete with a long-sought after dream: a UT medical school for deep South Texas. Plus, the Edinburg city delegation’s journey to the capital city will come less than a week before Gov. Rick Perry, along with state, regional, city, and university leaders, will participate in a ceremonial bill-signing of SB 24, authored by Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, and sponsored by Rep. René Oliveira, D-Brownsville. Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr., D-Brownsville, Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, and Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, were joint authors of Hinojosa’s SB 24. Oliveira was the lead sponsor of Hinojosa’s SB 24, while Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, Rep. Armando “Mando” Martínez, D-Weslaco, Rep. Sergio Muñoz, Jr., D-Mission, Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, Rep. Eddie Lucio, III, D-San Benito, Rep. Oscar Longoria, Jr., D-La Joya, Rep. R.D. “Bobby” Guerra, D-McAllen, and Rep. J.M. Lozano, R-Kingsville, were joint sponsors. UTPA President Robert Nelsen will host the governor for the public gathering at the UT-Pan American Student Union Theater on Tuesday, July 16 at 9:30 a.m. for remarks by Perry and a ceremonial signing of the legislation, followed by a brief reception at 10:30 a.m. The mayor, along with the city council and EEDC Board of Directors, have a long, successful history of lobbying for the community and UTPA before the Texas Legislature. Mayor García says he and his colleagues on the city council and EEDC Board of Directors are ready to remain a visible force for good before the UT System Board of Regents. Months of hard work by the UT System regents and top UT System leaders are at hand, with the goals of creating the new university system and medical school as directed by the Texas Legislature. “This whole thing began because we were in their ear,” Mayor García reflected on the efforts, over the past year-and-a-half, that led to the filing and passage of SB 24. “We need to continue that movement to be sure they address our needs down here.” The mayor, who during the spring helped rally local and county-wide support to bring the first two years of the four-year UT medical school complex to Hidalgo County, is determined to see South Texas get its fair share of the UT System’s impressive resources. “In the past, we have been shortchanged,” Mayor García recalled. “But now, we are finally at the table, and we need to stay there. That’s what this is all about.” Gus García (no relation to the mayor), is the point man for the city’s elected and appointed leadership. A former Edinburg Mayor Pro Tem, Gus García knows what it takes to work with the titans of industry, politics, and education to benefit Edinburg and South Texas. “The mayor, city council, and EEDC Board of Directors always have been effectively involved in shaping major state laws and policies that benefit and protect our community,” Gus García observed. “With the help of our outstanding Rio Grande Valley state legislative delegation, and with the Valley now guaranteed at least one area resident on the UT System Board of Regents, we are in a very good position to help this new UT university system and UT medical school forever change Edinburg and South Texas for the better.” Francisco Cigarroa, M.D., Chancellor of the University of Texas System, also credits state, regional and local leaders for their crucial roles in the merger and medical school legislation. “With profound gratitude to everyone, including elected officials, students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni and business and community leaders, your collective voices were instrumental in this important leap forward for South Texas and all of Texas,” Cigarroa stated in his recent announcement of the July 16 ceremony. “The new UT and its medical school will transform Texas and the nation by becoming a global leader in student success, teaching, research and healthcare. It will be affordable, accessible and innovative.” As for the July 10 meeting of the UT System Board of Regents, that governing board will gather on the ninth floor of Ashbell Smith Hall, 201 W. 7th Street. The event, with the exception of allowable executive session items, will be held in public. The public portions of all regent meetings are available online. For the July 10 session, the full agenda packet, plus live and archived video broadcasts of the event, are available by logging on to: utsystem.edu/board-of-regents/meetings/board-meeting-2013-07-10
Posted on: Wed, 10 Jul 2013 00:49:07 +0000
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