Texas Border Business
When McAllen District 2 City Commissioner Joaquin “J.J.” Zamora sought elected office in 2017, his campaign focused on three themes: Integrity. Accountability. Public Service.
Commissioner Zamora seeks to continue building on the same themes and he seeks to be the District 2 City Commissioner.Commissioner Zamora formally filed his application seeking re-election on January 13, 2021, with theMcAllen City Secretary to be placed on the city election ballot. The city election is scheduled for Saturday, May 1, 2021.
Commissioner Zamora states he will continue to foster trust and communication with the constituents of District 2 and all citizens of McAllen. “Serving and representing the constituents of McAllen District 2is an honor and privilege. I hope to have earned the trust and respect of District 2 residents to continue as their City Commissioner for an additional four years.”
Commissioner Zamora commenced his grassroots campaign in 2017, seeking to be “a voice in McAllen City Hall” and will continue to do so this election cycle. The commissioner has stated during citycommission meetings and workshops that “city government has a duty, if not an obligation, to keep awell-informed, and educated citizenry on local and city issues. To that end, city government must listen and allow itself to be transparent for trust to develop between citizens and city government.”
A strong advocate of neighborhoods, parks, and basic infrastructure, Commissioner Zamora will continue to promote and beautify neighborhoods and parks through Project Clean Neighborhoods, a project of Keep McAllen Beautiful. The project is another “grass-roots” method communicating withconstituents and identifying issues or concerns in our neighborhood and look at ways to finding solutions.Several issues that District 2 citizens have raised have been flooding, illegal dumping, and speeding inneighborhoods. Town Hall meetings have been held at least twice a year to keep District 2 citizensinformed and address concerns in addition to neighborhood meetings. Being transparent, Commissioner Zamora and his family have personally hand-delivered thousands of Town Hall Meeting flyers,neighborhood meeting notices for neighborhood meetings inviting District 2 residents to be active and be involved in their community.
Among various city-wide and district-specific projects, Commissioner Zamora highlights that he has supported or advocated for:
- The 2018 Drainage Bond Project to mitigate or manage flooding in various neighborhoods throughout the city and specifically in District 2 the re-profiling of the Northwest Blue Drainage line and increasing the storm-water drainage capacity along Auburn Ave and surrounding neighborhoods.
- The New McAllen Metro North Transit Terminal still under design and development, and installation of new bus shelters at various bus stops throughout the bus transit system.
- Reconstruction of Fire Station No. 2 at Harvey and Main St., and sustaining the McAllen Community Garden in situ.
- The extension of Bicentennial Blvd from Trenton to State Hwy 107; Auburn Ave between N. 10thSt. and Main St., and N. 29th Street from Oxford Ave to State Hwy 107
- The creation of additional sidewalks built along N. 23rd St., and along Dove Ave. between Bicentennial and 23rd St.
- COVID-19 Small business assistance through grants and small loans.
- Joint partnership with McAllen ISD to bring Wi-Fi to low-income neighborhoods and residences with school-age children in various parts of the city and District 2.
- Census 2020 initiative by promoting self-responses in District 2 through City-wide telethon, delivered 3900 Census information flyers though neighborhood canvassing.
- Project Clean Neighborhoods initiative in at least 15 neighborhoods per year, and walking and canvassing the neighborhoods with clean-up flyers
Commissioner Zamora states that one of the most rewarding experiences and accomplishments has beenhosting Town Hall Meetings at the Lark Community Center throughout his term, arguably, the most of any sitting city commissioner. The other is the “house-call”. He states that any issue or concern that ispersonal to a constituent is personal to him as well. It is very common for Zamora to show up at aconstituent’s home or business to discuss issues or concerns on a face to face basis. He explains that, attimes, the best way to address an issue or concern is to have a face-to-face discussion and observation, and begin problem-solving in the moment.
For over 23 years, Zamora has been serving the citizens of Hidalgo County as an Assistant Criminal District Attorney at the Hidalgo County Criminal District Attorney’s Office. He is also part-owner ofZamora’s Restaurant, a small, McAllen-based family business which he and his family have operated since2013, and a family-enterprise since 1977. Zamora has previously served on the McAllen Airport AdvisoryBoard, and the McAllen Parks and Recreation Board prior to his election in 2017.
Commissioner Zamora continues to bring citizen advocacy, legal acumen, and small-business experience to the McAllen Board of Commissioners. He believes in a fiscally responsible city budget thatpromotes a high-quality of life and city services to the citizens of McAllen and bolsters economic development of existing and new businesses of all sizes. Commissioner Zamora can be reached at his cellular telephone number: (956) 655-2357, email: jjzamoraformcallen@yahoo.com; and via Facebook page – Joaquin “J.J.” Zamora, McAllen City Commissioner District 2.
