Mayor’s Fitness Council Members Sworn-In and Officers Elected

By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2015, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

The newly established City of Eagle Pass Mayor’s Fitness Council celebrated its first official meeting and the swearing-in of members and the election of officers on Friday, February 6, 2015, at City Council Chambers in Eagle Pass, Texas, ushering a new era of health, fitness, and wellness in the community.

Sworn-in as new members of the Mayor’s Fitness Council are Maverick County Hospital District Chief Executive Officer Terri Contreras-Patlan, Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center Public Relations Director Lourdes Munoz- Perez, Registered Nurse Sonia Tovar, Pharmacist Hilda Martinez, Dr. Hector Alvarez, Robert Velasquez, Lety Villanueva, Patty Rodriguez, Gerry Galvan, City Manager Gloria Barrientos, City Parks & Recreation Department Assistant Director Rosie Aguirre, Zumba instructor and healthier living advocate Lisa Cain, Roberto Gelacio, Blanca Doig, Elvia Ledezma, and Rosie De Los Santos.

The Eagle Pass City Council established the Mayor’s Fitness Council on July 15, 2014 by approving a resolution appointing members to the Mayor’s Fitness Council. Mayor Ramsey English Cantu stated: “This is in conjoined efforts with The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) through their Border Regional efforts, ultimately trying to combat obesity issues with young children and how we can promote healthier lifestyles in our community. There is funding available for the city to run such programs.” The City of Eagle Pass was awarded a $6,000 grant by DSHS to operate an obesity prevention and wellness program within the community.

Elected as Chairperson of the Mayor’s Fitness Council was Lourdes M. Perez, First Vice-President was Rosie Aguirre, and Second Vice-President was Dr. Hector Alvarez.

The City of Eagle Pass will coordinate this obesity prevention and wellness program with the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, local health care providers, and fitness centers, as well as the City of Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico.

The Eagle Pass City Council is a strong advocate for preventing childhood obesity and promoting fitness and wellness within the community.

Mayor Cantu has taken the initiative to lead by example by implementing a personal exercise regime and healthier living through daily exercise, healthier eating habits, and a positive attitude and commitment to making a difference for young children and adults in the community.

Mayor Cantu stated that adding an exercise regime into his life has gotten him to feel much healthier and he highly recommends it to the entire community to participate and get involved in physical exercise, eat healthier such as more fruits and greens, and think positively.

The Mayor’s Fitness Council will develop and implement childhood and adult obesity prevention programs, physical exercise programs and activities, healthier eating programs, and wellness programs for the community in the immediate future.