Raul G. Salinas
Encyclopedia
Raúl González Salinas is a private security consultant, a businessman, and a retired Federal Bureau of Investigation
agent who was first elected mayor
of Laredo, Texas
, on June 17, 2006. Then a self-styled "political outsider," Salinas defeated 8-year city councilman John Clifford Galo (born 1958) in a low-turnout election: 9,665 votes (52.75 percent) to 8,657 (47.25 percent).
Salinas is a native of Alice
, the seat of Jim Wells County
east of Laredo. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park
.
Salinas opposes the construction of the border wall
along the Rio Grande
. He claims that the wall would devastate Laredo economically because Mexican laborers sustain the Laredo economy by 40 percent.
Salinas's term was extended to four and one-half years so that city elections henceforth coincide with the November general election
. Salinas led in the first round of voting and then defeated the outgoing 8-year city council member Gene Belmares (born 1963) by a 2-1 margin in the December 11 runoff election. Salinas successfully used the slogan "Still, The Right Man" in his reelection campaign. Belmares carried the backing of the Laredo Morning Times
but finished with only 34 percent of the vote in a low-turnout election. At times the campaign bogged down in trivia, as each candidate attempted to take credit for the installation of speed bumps in a particular neighborhood. Salinas polled 12,783 votes to Belmares' 6,575.
Belmares will be replaced on the 8-member city council by Charlie San Miguel, who has promised to make traffic congestion in north Laredo his priority. Salinas is term-limited and is ineligible to seek a third term in 2014, barring any changes to the Laredo city charter.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
agent who was first elected mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Laredo, Texas
Laredo, Texas
Laredo is the county seat of Webb County, Texas, United States, located on the north bank of the Rio Grande in South Texas, across from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 236,091 making it the 3rd largest on the United States-Mexican border,...
, on June 17, 2006. Then a self-styled "political outsider," Salinas defeated 8-year city councilman John Clifford Galo (born 1958) in a low-turnout election: 9,665 votes (52.75 percent) to 8,657 (47.25 percent).
Salinas is a native of Alice
Alice, Texas
At the 2000 census, there were 19,010 people, 6,400 households and 4,915 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,597.4 per square mile . There were 6,998 housing units at an average density of 588.0 per square mile...
, the seat of Jim Wells County
Jim Wells County, Texas
At the 2000 census, there were 39,326 people, 12,961 households and 10,096 families residing in the county. The population density was 46 per square mile . There were 14,819 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
east of Laredo. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
.
Salinas opposes the construction of the border wall
United States–Mexico barrier
The Mexico–United States barrier — also known in the United States as the border fence or border wall — is actually several separation barriers designed to prevent illegal movement across the Mexico – United States border...
along the Rio Grande
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
. He claims that the wall would devastate Laredo economically because Mexican laborers sustain the Laredo economy by 40 percent.
Salinas's term was extended to four and one-half years so that city elections henceforth coincide with the November general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
. Salinas led in the first round of voting and then defeated the outgoing 8-year city council member Gene Belmares (born 1963) by a 2-1 margin in the December 11 runoff election. Salinas successfully used the slogan "Still, The Right Man" in his reelection campaign. Belmares carried the backing of the Laredo Morning Times
Laredo Morning Times
The Laredo Morning Times is a daily newspaper publication based in Laredo, Texas, USA. It is owned by the Hearst Corporation.The Laredo Morning Times was founded on June 14, 1881 as "the Laredo Weekly," a four-page newspaper published by James Saunders Penn. Two years later, the paper became a...
but finished with only 34 percent of the vote in a low-turnout election. At times the campaign bogged down in trivia, as each candidate attempted to take credit for the installation of speed bumps in a particular neighborhood. Salinas polled 12,783 votes to Belmares' 6,575.
Belmares will be replaced on the 8-member city council by Charlie San Miguel, who has promised to make traffic congestion in north Laredo his priority. Salinas is term-limited and is ineligible to seek a third term in 2014, barring any changes to the Laredo city charter.