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<\/p>\nFour-term City Councilman Gil Hernandez plans to join the race for Corpus Christi mayor in the November election, according to a news release issued late Aug. 13.<\/p>\n
He intends to file the formal paperwork Aug. 17, he wrote in an email to the Caller-Times.<\/p>\n
First elected in 2018, Hernandez has served as District 5 representative since then.<\/p>\n
He wrote in the news release that his decision to run was because he “believed Corpus Christi could do better.”<\/p>\n
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District 5 candidate Gil Hernandez watches other candidates draw for the order that their names will appear on the ballot on Aug. 29, 2022, at City Hall in Corpus Christi, Texas.<\/p>\n
“Corpus Christi is at a crossroads,” Hernandez wrote. “We need strong leadership that puts residents first, protects taxpayers, demands accountability, and makes informed decisions based on facts and what’s best for the people of this City\u2014not on political connections, special interests, or who has the loudest voice in the room.”<\/p>\n
He named his top priorities as “safe and reliable water, reasonable costs, accountable government, responsible growth, supported public safety and a City government that treats its residents fairly.”<\/p>\n
Hernandez has voted against advancement of the proposed Inner Harbor seawater desalination plant<\/a>, instead focusing on alternative projects, such as brackish groundwater and the Evangeline groundwater well field<\/a> in San Patricio County.<\/p>\n He has also supported wastewater reuse.<\/p>\n Hernandez added in the news release that he plans to make “government integrity and anti-corruption measures a cornerstone of his campaign.”<\/p>\n Hernandez will be termed out this year without running for mayor, according to the City Charter.<\/p>\n It’s expected to be a hotly contested election<\/a>, as Hernandez will face incumbent Mayor Paulette Guajardo, who amid the filing period in council races was suspended by a six-member council tribunal<\/a> from her position for 30 days and reprimanded in relation to a controversial award of a $2 million tax incentive agreement in 2024.<\/p>\n Hernandez served on the six-member council tribunal and voted with the majority finding three charges against Guajardo<\/a> true of “misconduct, malfeasance, incompetence, or inability or willful neglect of performance of her official duties.”<\/p>\n The findings are not criminal charges.<\/p>\n Guajardo has denied wrongdoing in the matter<\/a> and has pointed to a law enforcement investigation<\/a> and an external legal review<\/a> that did not find criminal wrongdoing.<\/p>\n Guajardo told the Caller-Times Aug. 11 that during her suspension, which continues through Sept. 6, she intended to work on her campaign.<\/p>\n “They’ve elected me five different times over the last 10 years,” she said. “They know who I am, they trust in who I am and they support me and they also know what I stand for.”<\/p>\n Guajardo also addressed the removal hearing.<\/p>\n “Although this has been, in my opinion, a very negative event for our city, I see the community seeing it for what it is,” she said.<\/p>\n In addition to Guajardo, four other candidates have filed the paperwork to run for mayor, according to filings as of end of day Aug. 13.<\/p>\n They include, as shown in city records, Andrew Salinas, David Ainsworth Sr., Chelise Hyatt and John Calkusic.<\/p>\n The last day to file for candidacy in the City Council election is Aug. 17.<\/p>\n (This story was updated to add more information.)<\/p>\n Kirsten Crow covers city government and water news. Have a story idea? Contact her at kirsten.crow@caller.com.<\/p>\n Consider supporting local journalism with a\u00a0subscription to the Caller-Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n