Changes

==Background==

==Background==

Flores was born in Laredo to Eloy Garcia, Sr. (1923–1998), a businessman, and the former Bonnie Lopez (1919–2012), originally a beautician.<ref name=blgobit>Bonnie L. Lopez obituary, ''The Laredo Morning Times,'' February 18, 2012.</ref> Betty Flores was reared in the "Heights" neighborhood of mid Laredo. One of her neighbors was Mayor [[J. C. Martin, Jr.]], known as Pepe Martin, who served from 1954 to 1978, whom she says taught her loyalty from a young age. Her father was for many years a member of the elected Laredo College board of trustees and a philanthropist who gave generously to the institution, which named a building after him. Eloy Garcia gave Betty her first dollar when she was a little girl and her first campaign check when she decided to run for mayor. He lived barely long enough to see her elected. He went to cast his vote in an ambulance refusing to vote at the hospital. Eloy and Bonnie Garcia were in partnership with their children in the E. G. Ranch Partnership. Her mother donated the land for what became the Bonnie L. Garcia Elementary School in the United Independent School District in Laredo.<ref name=blgobit/>​

Flores was born in Laredo to Eloy Garcia, Sr. (1923–1998), a businessman, and the former Bonnie Lopez (1919–2012), originally a beautician.<ref name=blgobit>Bonnie L. Lopez obituary, ''The Laredo Morning Times,'' February 18, 2012.</ref> Betty Flores was reared in the "Heights" neighborhood of mid Laredo. One of her neighbors was Mayor [[J. C. Martin, Jr.]], known as Pepe Martin, who served from 1954 to 1978, whom she says taught her loyalty from a young age. Her father was for many years a member of the elected Laredo College board of trustees and a philanthropist who gave generously to the institution, which named a building after him. Eloy Garcia gave Betty her first dollar when she was a little girl and her first campaign check when she decided to run for mayor. He lived barely long enough to see her elected. He went to cast his vote in an ambulance refusing to vote at the hospital. Eloy and Bonnie Garcia were in partnership with their children in the E. G. Ranch Partnership. Her mother donated the land for what became the Bonnie L. Garcia Elementary School in the United Independent School District in Laredo.<ref name=blgobit/>​

In 1962, Betty Garcia married Antonio "Toño" Flores,<ref name=foxdegrees/> a son of the late Daniel Flores, Sr., and Simona Alicia Flores. His older brother, Dan Flores, Jr. (c. 1937-2016), was a [[United States Army]] second lieutenant who served two tours in the [[Vietnam War]] and thereafter was named the chief financial officer at Laredo College, from which he retired in 2009 under the presidency of Juan Leandro Maldonado (1948-2018).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lmtonline.com/obituaries/article_a73b952a-0e30-11e6-aeef-334b6b1efc9a.html|title=Daniel Flores, Jr.|date=April 29, 2016|publisher=''The Laredo Morning Times''|accessdate=May 2, 2016}}</ref>​

In 1962, Betty Garcia married Antonio "Toño" Flores,<ref name=foxdegrees/> a son of the late Daniel Flores, Sr., and Simona Alicia Flores. His older brother, Dan Flores, Jr. (c. 1937-2016), was a [[United States Army]] second lieutenant who served two tours in the [[Vietnam War]] and thereafter was named the chief financial officer at Laredo College, from which he retired in 2009 under the presidency of Juan Leandro Maldonado (1948-2018).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lmtonline.com/obituaries/article_a73b952a-0e30-11e6-aeef-334b6b1efc9a.html|title=Daniel Flores, Jr.|date=April 29, 2016|publisher=''The Laredo Morning Times''|accessdate=May 2, 2016}}</ref>​

==Running for mayor==

==Running for mayor==

 

Flores announced that she would run for mayor in the fall of 1997, after the incumbent, Saul N. Ramirez, Jr., resigned to join the [[Bill Clinton|Clinton]] administration. Ramirez later became the deputy in [[Washington, D.C.]], to United States [[Department of Housing and Urban Development]] Secretary [[Andrew Cuomo]], since the [[governor]] of [[New York]]. Flores won the special election runoff in the winter of 1998. Then she ran for a full term in May 1998. She defeated an outgoing councilman, Alfonso I. "Poncho" Casso, who reappeared in 2012 to seek a position on the Webb County Commission and a previous city attorney, Fausto Sosa. In 2002, she was easily reelected to a second full term when she defeated a former city councilman, Felipe Cardenas, who had been recalled from office several years earlier, as permitted under the Laredo municipal charter, though there is no recall in Texas for state positions.

Flores announced that she would run for mayor in the fall of 1997, after the incumbent, Saul N. Ramirez, Jr., resigned to join the [[Bill Clinton|Clinton]] administration. Ramirez later became the deputy in [[Washington, D.C.]], to United States [[Department of Housing and Urban Development]] Secretary [[Andrew Cuomo]], since the [[governor]] of [[New York]]. Flores won the special election runoff in the winter of 1998. Then she ran for a full term in May 1998. She defeated an outgoing councilman, Alfonso I. "Poncho" Casso, who reappeared in 2012 to seek a position on the Webb County Commission and a previous city attorney, Fausto Sosa. In 2002, she was easily reelected to a second full term when she defeated a former city councilman, Felipe Cardenas, who had been recalled from office several years earlier, as permitted under the Laredo municipal charter, though there is no recall in Texas for state positions.

==Laredo Energy Arena==

==Laredo Energy Arena==

 

Flores affectionately calls the LEA, located off the Bob Bullock Loop, "the house that Laredo built." Ray Keck, a former president of Texas A&M International University in Laredo, said that the LEA clearly tops the list of Flores' accomplishments because she was "the driving force behind that." Keck also noted that Flores worked to keep the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra together. Then City Manager Larry Dovalina (born 1947) said that when the LEC opened, "people looked at Laredo in a different light."​

Flores affectionately calls the LEA, located off the Bob Bullock Loop, "the house that Laredo built." Ray Keck, a former president of Texas A&M International University in Laredo, said that the LEA clearly tops the list of Flores' accomplishments because she was "the driving force behind that." Keck also noted that Flores worked to keep the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra together. Then City Manager Larry Dovalina (born 1947) said that when the LEC opened, "people looked at Laredo in a different light."​

==Discontent with Flores' last two years as mayor==

==Discontent with Flores' last two years as mayor==

Despite these accomplishments, Flores left office in a downturn of her personal popularity. In 2005, she told [[Lou Dobbs]], then with the [[Cable News Network]], that virtually all of several dozen Laredoans, who have gone missing in populous and violent-prone Nuevo Laredo, across the river in [[Mexico]], were linked in some way with the illegal [[narcotics]] traffic.<ref name=txmo>{{cite web|url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/betty-flores/|title=Betty Flores: On border security - and insecurity"|publisher=''Texas Monthly''|author=Evan Smith|date=May 31, 2006|accessdate=October 16, 2019}}</ref>

Despite these accomplishments, Flores left office in a downturn of her personal popularity. In 2005, she told [[Lou Dobbs]], then with the [[Cable News Network]], that virtually all of several dozen Laredoans, who have gone missing in populous and violent-prone Nuevo Laredo, across the river in [[Mexico]], were linked in some way with the illegal [[narcotics]] traffic.<ref name=txmo>{{cite web|url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/betty-flores/|title=Betty Flores: On border security - and insecurity|publisher=''Texas Monthly''|author=Evan Smith|date=May 31, 2006|accessdate=October 16, 2019}}</ref>

Her accusation outraged the families of those who have missing loved ones. The missing Americans were highlighted in several 2006 episodes of Fox's ''America's Most Wanted,'' hosted by John Walsh, to highlight the problems of the Americans missing in Mexico. Flores, meanwhile, has defended her allegation of drug connections because she claims to have seen the proof in the victims' records. Nevertheless, Flores said she understood that the families are grieving and need assistance.<ref name=txmo/>

Her accusation outraged the families of those who have missing loved ones. The missing Americans were highlighted in several 2006 episodes of Fox's ''America's Most Wanted,'' hosted by John Walsh, to highlight the problems of the Americans missing in Mexico. Flores, meanwhile, has defended her allegation of drug connections because she claims to have seen the proof in the victims' records. Nevertheless, Flores said she understood that the families are grieving and need assistance.<ref name=txmo/>

Flores also angered some taxpayers who believed that municipal taxes increased too sharply during her administration. The municipal taxes were increased because property values went down so that the effective tax rate could stay the same.  Many questioned the city having paid for liquor and a mariachi band for the annual Laredo Day celebration in Washington D.C., something all cities do to thank the agency employees for their hard work.  Trips to Washington, D.C. were also criticised by people that who had not worked in the political arena and viewed the trips as "junkets." Others questioned the high salaries of certain appointed city officials. Flores herself received a salary of only $18,000 annually, as the mayoralty is part-time. The salary doubled when Salinas became mayor, but the position is still part-time. Flores said that she worked full-time, beyond what was required. She said that she was neither pleased or displeased when her term ended in the summer of 2006.<ref name=txmo/>

Flores also angered some taxpayers who believed that municipal taxes increased too sharply during her administration. The municipal taxes were increased because property values went down so that the effective tax rate could stay the same.  Many questioned the city having paid for liquor and a mariachi band for the annual Laredo Day celebration in Washington D.C., something all cities do to thank the agency employees for their hard work.  Trips to Washington, D.C. were also criticised by people that who had not worked in the political arena and viewed the trips as "junkets." Others questioned the high salaries of certain appointed city officials. Flores herself received a salary of only $18,000 annually, as the mayoralty is part-time. The salary doubled when Salinas became mayor, but the position is still part-time. Flores said that she worked full-time, beyond what was required. She said that she was neither pleased or displeased when her term ended in the summer of 2006.<ref name=txmo/>

Flores argued that the Border Patrol should not be required to pick up [[illegal alien]]s for deportation unless those individuals are carrying guns, drugs, or involved in any known crime. "I think they should just give them a bottle of water and send them on their way," she said. "Let's face it, they are coming here to work and take jobs that no one else wants anyway."<ref>''The Laredo Morning Times,''June 15, 1999.</ref> Still others objected when Flores, despite her emphasis on border security, said that the Minutemen volunteers, which seek to prevent illegal crossings by referring aliens to the Border Patrol, were "not welcome" in Laredo. Salinas also continued the criticism of the the Minutemen, having even told [[U.S. Representative [[Steve King]] of [[Iowa]] that King, a [[Republican Party|Republican]], was not welcome in Laredo while undertaking a congressional fact-finding tour.  

Flores argued that the Border Patrol should not be required to pick up [[illegal alien]]s for deportation unless those individuals are carrying guns, drugs, or involved in any known crime. "I think they should just give them a bottle of water and send them on their way," she said. "Let's face it, they are coming here to work and take jobs that no one else wants anyway."<ref>''The Laredo Morning Times,''June 15, 1999.</ref> Still others objected when Flores, despite her emphasis on border security, said that the Minutemen volunteers, which seek to prevent illegal crossings by referring aliens to the Border Patrol, were "not welcome" in Laredo. Salinas also continued the criticism of the Minutemen, having even told U.S. Representative [[Steve King]] of [[Iowa]] that King, a [[Republican Party|Republican]], was not welcome in Laredo while undertaking a congressional fact-finding tour.  

Flores was prominently featured, usually in a positive light, in ''The Laredo Morning Times.'' She once disputed two articles in the paper and withheld two city advertisements to make her point to newspaper executives. The LMT still named her "Laredoan of the Year. The editor found out several years later that the reporter who wrote the story as presented was not even in town at the time.

Flores was prominently featured, usually in a positive light, in ''The Laredo Morning Times.'' She once disputed two articles in the paper and withheld two city advertisements to make her point to newspaper executives. The LMT still named her "Laredoan of the Year. The editor found out several years later that the reporter who wrote the story as presented was not even in town at the time.

As she vacated the office of mayor, Flores said, "I gave some of my best years to this city. It's been a wonderful, wonderful ride. The only thing you can't take away is my love of Laredo." In addition to the entertainment complex and the improved border economy, Flores outlined a dozen accomplishments from her tenure:​

As she vacated the office of mayor, Flores said, "I gave some of my best years to this city. It's been a wonderful, wonderful ride. The only thing you can't take away is my love of Laredo." In addition to the entertainment complex and the improved border economy, Flores outlined a dozen accomplishments from her tenure:​

 

*Major airport improvements, mostly from $68 million in grants from the Federal Aviation Administration​

*Major airport improvements, mostly from $68 million in grants from the Federal Aviation Administration​

*Inaugurated a new Laredo police headquarters, opened sixteen police substations, and a new municipal court building adjacent to the police​

*Inaugurated a new Laredo police headquarters, opened sixteen police substations, and a new municipal court building adjacent to the police​

* Fought to remove truck inspections away from the international bridges to relieve traffic congestion​

* Fought to remove truck inspections away from the international bridges to relieve traffic congestion​

* Established a smoke-free Laredo, with all restaurants enforcing non-smoking policies.​

* Established a smoke-free Laredo, with all restaurants enforcing non-smoking policies.​

 

==References==

==References==