Councilman, National Guard sergeant run for mayor in Progreso

PROGRESO, TEXAS (ValleyCentral) — Voters in Progreso will head to the polls next month to pick a new mayor.

Two candidates — City Councilman Raul Martinez and Hugo Gamboa, a sergeant in the Texas Army National Guard — filed ballot applications last week.

They’re running to replace Mayor Gerardo “Jerry” Alanis, who resigned in April after Homeland Security Investigations arrested him on federal drug trafficking charges.

“I’m a simple person. Never been into politics,” said Gamboa, 37, of Progreso. “But I feel I can make a change. A positive change.”

Gamboa joined the military when he was 20 years old. He’s currently a sergeant 1st class in the Texas Army National Guard, where he works in human resources.

“I’ve deployed to Iraq, Guatemala, Chile,” Gamboa said.

Progreso needs better parks, Gamboa said, along with more street lights and sidewalks.

“We have a lot of kids that walk to school. And there’s not a lot of sidewalks,” Gamboa said. “So it’s a little bit dangerous for them to be walking next to the road.”

Gamboa is running with City Council candidate Sandra V. Estrada, 56, of Progreso.

Martinez, who joined the City Council in 2018, said he wants to address the community’s concerns.

“I just want them to know that I’m not part of those bad things that are happening,” said Martinez, 40, who co-owns Tortilleria Nvo Progreso.

Martinez comes from a family with a history of public service.

Before he joined the City Council, Martinez and his father served on the Progreso school board. His wife, Berenice, joined the school board in 2022.

The City Council is listening to people’s concerns, Martinez said, and taking action to address them.

Progreso created a Facebook page to share information, plans to install more street lights and recently started the process to fix Malone Drive, which is riddled with potholes.

“I know I’ve been there for quite a while,” Martinez said. “But as a commissioner it’s kind of hard, just by yourself, to work on these things.”

As mayor, Martinez said he would be able to accomplish more.

“I have the experience,” Martinez said. “I know how it works.”

Martinez is running with City Council candidate Dago Treviño, 44, of Progreso.

The city almost had a three-way race for mayor.

Juan V. Trevino, 43, of Progreso filed a ballot application on Friday. On Monday, however, Trevino changed his mind and withdrew the application.

Trevino, who works for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said he became concerned that running for mayor would be a conflict of interest.

“Thank you for your understanding and patience,” Trevino said in a handwritten letter submitted to Progreso on Monday afternoon.

Early voting starts on May 29 and ends on June 11, according to information published by the city. Election day is June 15.