Tamaulipas' new governor visits Laredo, aims to incite public trust in government

After a meeting with newly elected Nuevo Laredo Mayor Enrique Rivas, Tamaulipas Governor-elect Francisco Javier Garcia Cabeza de Vaca met with local and state officials Wednesday at City Hall.

State Reps. Richard Peña Raymond and Tracy King; U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar; Laredo City Manager Jesus Olivares; and Mayor Pro-Tempore Juan Narvaez spoke about the reinforcement of Laredo’s relationship with Nuevo Laredo and Tamaulipas.

Cuellar stressed that Mexico’s energy reform would strengthen the Texas-Mexico ties.

The message sent was as clear as the last meeting with Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz and Rivas: the region will work together to progress into the future.

At City Hall, Cabeza de Vaca spoke about his interest in strengthening the ties between Texas and Tamaulipas and regaining the public’s trust.

Part of his action plan to regain the public’s trust, he said, was to create a police force for the different municipalities in Tamaulipas and have them trained in the U.S.

He reiterated Cuellar’s opinion of how Mexico’s energy reform would strengthen the region’s business and economic ventures.

When asked by Mexican media if he knew whether there were 5,000 missing persons in Tamaulipas, Cabeza de Vaca corrected the journalist.

“They’re 5,700,” he said.

He added, “It’s a topic that causes pain, where these families have faith in seeing their family members who have disappeared again.

"Of course, this new administration will use every resource possible and political will to find these people and attend to this serious problem that 5,7000 families are living with. This is why the people wanted change.

“They did not want to continue with the same politics of the past. ... We will not permit anymore impunity.”

Cabeza de Vaca, of the PAN party, was elected into office after the state of Tamaulipas had been under opposing political party, PRI, for 86 years.