Issues

He has learned  first-hand about the concerns and thoughts of the great people of South Texas.

Sergio’s vision and specific ideas about what he would like to see happen. He has been a  strong voice and advocate for bringing us results. Sergio wants more quality jobs, more community resources, and more investment for our community.

He wants all of us working together more cooperatively, both here locally, and in Austin, to strengthen our quality of life and economic foundation.

Creating More Jobs

Sergio has worked hard to provide our labor base with better workforce training and technology skill sets to develop better paying jobs for our area.

Sergio has  worked hard to  spark economic development and jobs creation through legislative and state agency policies that result in the recruitment of new, and expansion of existing, large and small businesses in South Texas through state tax incentives, and with improvements of the state highway and roadway systems.

Improving Education

Sergio has fought hard to support increased state funding to local school districts, and oppose measures that impose unfunded mandates on local public school districts.

Sergio has fought hard for  state pay raise for educators in order to keep and attract the best teachers in South Texas and state’s public schools.

Sergio has fought hard  to ensure that the state provides affordable and quality health insurance to retired teachers and their spouses, and protect their pensions.

Strong Families

Sergio wants  our community to have a better quality of life and provide more for our families so that everyone has the financial opportunities all of us deserve. We all want what’s best for our families. Working as an attorney and being a state representative in this region, I have  fought  for people everyday both in South Texas and Austin.

Our infrastructure still needs much improvement e.g. roadways, drainage, water, and waste water, telecommunications. We need more parks and green space. We don’t have enough affordable housing.

Sergio  will  continue to  promote reforms in the state’s legal and tax systems that will help homeowners better protect their most valuable investment, while making it more affordable for Texans to buy and hold on to their homes.

I intend to promote legislation requiring the state property tax freeze, which prevents the property taxes of elderly and disabled homeowners, to extend to a new class of homeowners who are now considered disabled under the Amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act – notably, persons with cancer and diabetes.

Sergio  opposes a tax on professional services, such as commissions paid to a real estate broker. Such a tax would also increase the cost of home ownership. Imposing a tax on any professional service amounts to a state personal income tax and I am opposed to a state personal income tax. Sergio would oppose an increase in the existing state sales tax.

Helping Small Business

Sergio will continue to work hard to pass legislation that promotes the development of small businesses in the Valley. He want to see more resources and get more help for our small businesses so that they can continue to be the backbone of our local economy.
We need more tax discounts for small business insurance.
Sergio will oppose a state personal income tax, which would hurt both employers and employees.

Improving Health Care

Sergio wants health care options that are more affordable and accessible; for individuals, families and the elderly. They took care of us, now it’s our turn to take care of them.

Sergio will work with the legislature to tap into two existing state programs – the Texas Enterprise Fund and the Texas Emerging Technology Fund – to help pay for the construction of a Veterans Affairs Hospital in the Valley.

Sergio will assist South Texans by making it easier for thousands of Valley families and individuals to protect their families by expanding the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and improving access to Medicaid.

Sergio supports for the planned University of Texas Health Science Center – South Texas, which will include a medical school for the region.

Stronger Public Safety

Sergio wants safer neighborhoods, fair and equal legal system and more preventative programs to reduce crime.
Sergio wants to boost public safety with a strong border security system in partnership with local, state and federal agencies, and pass laws that protect crime victims while cracking down on violent criminals and sexual offenders.

Helping Our Students

Sergio will continue to fight to make higher education more accessible and affordable.

Sergio will continue to protect state funding for the major Texas student loan programs that exist to help students get the education they want.
Sergio will continue to defend the UTPA Advantage Program from any efforts by the UT System to cut back on this financial aid as the system leadership makes budget cuts.

Sergio will continue to work with the UT System to make sure that the jobs and benefits of all active employees at UT-Pan American are protected.
Sergio will continue to work with the UT System and STC leadership to build partnerships with other Hidalgo County communities to continue or build their presence in other communities