Texas Border Business
This month, Texas Border Business brings readers an exclusive and deeply personal look into the life of one of South Texas’s most inspiring public servants — Mayor Adrian Gonzalez of Weslaco. His story is one of ambition, heartbreak, and redemption, and it begins not in City Hall but in the farmlands of Hidalgo County, where a young man once dreamed of basketball glory and ended up fighting for his life.
Gonzalez opens up like never before, sharing how a promising start — becoming Weslaco’s youngest City Commissioner at just 25 — spiraled into years of alcoholism and addiction that nearly killed him. In a raw and emotional interview held at Don Ponchitos Café Jardín, Gonzalez recounts the night in 2018 when his body began to shut down, and a doctor told him he wouldn’t survive if he ever drank again. What followed was a rebirth — a fight for sobriety, faith, and family that would ultimately lead him back to public service and into Weslaco’s highest office.
Today, seven years sober and two years into his first term as mayor, Gonzalez is channeling his second chance into a new era of progress for Weslaco. Under his leadership, the city has approved a $30 million bond for infrastructure, drainage, and park improvements, paving the way for responsible growth and a stronger future. “It’s not glamorous,” he says, “but it’s the foundation of a city.”
Inside this special feature, readers will discover the full story — from the fields and faith that shaped Gonzalez’s early life to the bold vision now guiding Weslaco’s transformation. It’s a story about community, family, resilience, and the unstoppable will to rebuild.
Meet the man behind the title — a mayor who believes in second chances, a city that’s redefining its future, and a region whose heartbeat lies in the Mid-Valley. Don’t miss Texas Border Business’s exclusive November cover story: “From Rock Bottom to City Hall: the Adrian Gonzalez story.”
Enjoy!
See related story:
