Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
In an exclusive interview, McAllen City Commissioner and state prosecutor with Hidalgo County JJ Zamora voiced strong opposition to Proposition A & B, two measures backed by Ground Game Texas to amend the McAllen city charter. “These reforms are a solution looking for a problem,” Zamora stated, emphasizing that the issues the propositions seek to address, such as campaign finance reform and the introduction of direct democracy tools, do not exist in McAllen.
Zamora views Ground Game Texas’s push as unnecessary and potentially harmful. “McAllen doesn’t have the corruption issues that they claim,” he said, adding that the advocacy seems like an attempt to use McAllen as a “testing ground” for broader reforms. He questioned the validity of Ground Game Texas’s motives, suggesting, “This is part of a political agenda to influence other cities, but there’s no reason to start with McAllen when our city government is operating just fine.”
Ground Game Texas has cited surveys claiming that 80% of McAllen residents are concerned about corruption in local government. However, Zamora pushed back on this notion. “The perception of corruption isn’t specific to McAllen—it’s a general distrust of government that we see all over the country,” he said. While acknowledging that public skepticism is real, he stressed, “The officials in McAllen have worked hard to maintain public trust, and there’s no evidence to suggest widespread corruption here.”
Zamora also took issue with the proposed preventative measures, such as limits on campaign finance and the use of referendums. He warned, “These reforms could be weaponized to disrupt local governance.” According to Zamora, mechanisms like referendums might open the door for individuals to manipulate the political process for their own benefit. “Rather than safeguarding democracy, these measures could create instability, and that’s not something McAllen needs,” he said.
One of Zamora’s biggest concerns is the cost of the propositions on McAllen taxpayers. He highlighted the cost of organizing a referendum, estimated at around $250,000. “Why should McAllen taxpayers foot the bill for something that an external organization is pushing?” he asked. While acknowledging that residents had signed petitions to support the propositions, Zamora argued, “Ground Game Texas should be the one covering these costs, not the people of McAllen.”
In addition to financial concerns, Zamora is wary of a broader political agenda behind Ground Game Texas’s efforts. “I don’t have direct insight into their motives, but it seems like McAllen is being targeted because of its regional influence,” he speculated. He added, “If they can push these reforms through in McAllen, it could set a precedent for other cities in the Rio Grande Valley, and that’s a risk we shouldn’t take lightly.”
Zamora is particularly critical of the introduction of direct democracy tools like referendums and recalls, mechanisms he believes could be misused. “These are dangerous tools in the wrong hands,” Zamora warned. “Instead of increasing accountability, they could be used to destabilize local government by individuals with political agendas.” He pointed out the potential for these tools to be manipulated for personal or political gain rather than improving governance. “We have to be very careful with these mechanisms because they can lead to chaos if misused,” he cautioned.
Looking to the future, Zamora expressed concern about the long-term impact these reforms could have on McAllen and the broader region. “If Proposition A & B pass here, it could spark a wave of similar reforms across the Rio Grande Valley,” he said. Zamora believes such reforms could lead to political instability in the long run, warning, “The last thing we need is for these misguided changes to spread and cause further disruptions to local governance.”
Zamora reiterated his belief that Propositions A & B are unnecessary and potentially harmful. “We don’t have a corruption problem in McAllen, and these reforms could destabilize our local government while placing an unfair financial burden on our taxpayers,” he said. Zamora remains steadfast in his opposition, cautioning, “The risks far outweigh the benefits, and McAllen shouldn’t be the testing ground for reforms that could have damaging consequences.”
Through his words, Zamora painted a clear picture of his concerns about Propositions A and B, urging McAllen residents to consider the potential long-term impact these reforms could have on the city and the region as a whole. “We need to think carefully about what’s really at stake here,” Zamora concluded, emphasizing the need to protect McAllen’s stability.
