Aaron Valdez Sworn-In as Mayor of Eagle Pass
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2025
After five months of campaigning, one general election, and one Mayoral Runoff election, Aaron Valdez was officially sworn-in as the new Mayor of the City of Eagle Pass, Texas at a special City Council meeting held on Monday, June 16, 2025 at City Council Chambers amid a large audience of more than 300 persons in attendance.
The Eagle Pass City Council, City Department Heads, and City employees presented outgoing Mayor Salinas with several “thank you” gifts for his dedicated commitment and public service for the past six years to the City of Eagle Pass and residents.
Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr. called his last City Council meeting to order at 5:34 p.m. on June 16, 2025 with a full quorum of the City Council present, including Mayor Pro-Tem William Davis and City Council members Elias Diaz, Mario E. Garcia, and Jessica Rey Ramon.
Mayor Salinas presented the final election results of the June 7, 2025 Mayoral Runoff Election after the recount petition filed by former City Council member and Mayoral candidate, Monica J. Cruz, with Aaron Valdez receiving a total of 2,615 votes compared to Cruz’s 2,600 votes for a slim victory margin of only 15 votes after five months of a highly competitive campaign.
City Council member Elias Diaz motioned to approve the final canvassing of the June 7th election results and the Resolution accepting the final results. Council member Mario E. Garcia seconded the motion and passed unanimously, 5-0—declaring Aaron Valdez as the official winner of the June 7th Mayoral Runoff election.
Mayor Salinas presented a farewell speech to the citizens of Eagle Pass and City employees, stating he wished to thank everyone for attending the special meeting, thanked Carlos for the video presentation of him during his years as Mayor, his family for supporting him, the citizens of Eagle Pass for allowing him the opportunity to serve as their Mayor, the City employees, his girlfriend, Cecy Berain, the news media, and most importantly, God, for making everything possible during these years.
Mayor Salinas added that serving as Mayor of Eagle Pass has been very rewarding and the greatest honor of his life and wished to thank everyone for the wonderful opportunity and privilege to serve them. He thanked everyone from the bottom of his heart and was grateful for his law partners, Claudio Heredia and Marco Salinas, patience and support of his public service commitment. He noted he will continue to practice law at his law firm, Knickerbocker, Heredia, Salinas & Salinas, and looked forward to serving the citizens of Eagle Pass as an advocate. The large audience gave a standing ovation and applause to Mayor Salinas as a gesture of appreciation for his dedication and service as Mayor the past four years. He proceeded to call Agenda Item No. 3 the Oath of Office to Aaron Valdez.
City Secretary Erika Rodriguez administered the Oath of Office to newly-elected Mayor Aaron Valdez accompanied by his lovely wife and First Lady, Stephany Valdez, his parents and siblings, and family members. Upon taking the Oath of Office and being duly sworn-in, Mayor Valdez was received with a warm and loud round of applause and standing ovation to inaugurate his tenure as the new Mayor of Eagle Pass.
Mayor Valdez presented his first public comments as the new Mayor of Eagle Pass by stating he wished to thank Mayor Salinas for his amazing leadership and public service, thanked God for giving him the opportunity to serve as Mayor, his wife, Stephany Valdez, for being his biggest supporter, advisor, and strength through all the challenges, his Mom, Sonia Valdez, for her unwavering support and love, his father, Rito Valdez, Jr., for guiding and molding him into the person he is today, his campaign team, all voters, supporters, and citizens whom supported him.
Mayor Valdez stated the victory belongs to and is dedicated to “all of us” in the community. He added that the courage and commitment of his campaign team, supporters, and every individual and organization who endorsed our vision for Eagle Pass were instrumental in guiding him to victory. He cited that “fortune favors the bold,” and his campaign was a bold step and together faced every obstacle with unity, strength and purpose. He looks forward to working with the City Council in serving the citizens of Eagle Pass with unity and purpose. Valdez noted that he seeks transparency in all City business, progress, trust, unity, and working with every neighborhood, citizen, and bringing progress for everyone in the community. “Let’s be the ones to plan, be the generation that gets things right, and starting today we start turning our promises into action and this honorable position is not about personal gain and politics, but rather about public service, integrity, and lifting our community higher…”
Mayor Valdez was welcomed with a rousing standing ovation and applause upon completing his first public presentation. Following the meeting, Mayor Valdez and guests enjoyed refreshments and treats at a reception held in the lobby of City Hall. God Bless Eagle Pass and Mayor Aaron Valdez!
