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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Honorable Richard Cortez is retiring as mayor of |
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McAllen in 2013, drawing to a close an exemplary career in public |
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service; and |
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WHEREAS, First elected in 2005 and reelected in 2009, Mayor |
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Cortez has worked diligently to promote economic development in |
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McAllen; during his tenure, the city has undertaken several large |
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projects, such as the creation of a convention center, an |
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international bridge, and an arts and entertainment district, as |
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well as an expansion of the airport; these advances have all been |
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made without increasing the tax rate; and |
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WHEREAS, Mayor Cortez has also fostered mutually beneficial |
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diplomatic ties between the city and its neighboring governments |
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across the border, hosting former U.S. president George Bush, |
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former Mexican president Vicente Fox, and five Mexican state |
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governors in McAllen to discuss common issues; the former chair of |
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the Border Trade Alliance and vice chair of the Texas Border |
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Coalition, Mayor Cortez is now assisting the federal government in |
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its efforts to secure our border without impeding legal trade; he |
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received the Distinguished Gold Medal from the governor of the |
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Mexican state of Veracruz for his service in building cultural and |
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business relationships between the State of Veracruz and the City |
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of McAllen; and |
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WHEREAS, Before his mayoral terms, Mr. Cortez was vice chair |
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of the McAllen Public Utility Board, and he served on McAllen's |
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Audit and Investment Committee from 2000 to 2005; he has been |
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president of the local Rio Grande Valley chapter of the Texas |
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Society of Certified Public Accountants and the McAllen Housing |
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Finance Corporation; in addition, he served on the Community |
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Development Block Grant Board and was involved with the |
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International Museum of Art and Science, the University of |
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Texas-Pan American Business Council, the McAllen Economic |
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Development Corporation Board, and the McAllen Chamber of Commerce |
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Board; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Cortez is a valued member of Our Lady of Sorrows |
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Catholic Church, serving as a youth minister and parish council |
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president; he is also an honorary member of the local Rotary Club |
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and has volunteered his time with the Boys & Girls Club of McAllen |
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Metro for many years; and |
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WHEREAS, In recognition of his work, Mayor Cortez has |
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received numerous accolades, including the first Teddy Roosevelt |
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Leadership Award given by the McAllen Chamber of Commerce and the |
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2009-2010 Distinguished Public Service Award from the Texas Society |
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of Certified Public Accountants; and |
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WHEREAS, During his retirement, Mayor Cortez looks forward to |
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spending more time with his wife, Elva, and their 4 children and 11 |
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grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Richard Cortez has proven himself a leader of great |
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vision and ability, and he may indeed reflect on his |
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accomplishments with pride as he looks forward to the next exciting |
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chapter of his life; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate the Honorable Richard Cortez on the |
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occasion of his retirement as mayor of McAllen and commend him for |
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his outstanding contributions to the community; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mayor Cortez as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |