Former mayor announces bid for reelection

Former Edinburg Mayor Richard Molina announced March 4 his intention for mayoral candidacy. This came after fellow candidates Omar Ochoa and Johnny Garcia announced their intentions to run as well.

Molina served from 2013 to 2017 as a city councilmember. Afterwards, he served one term as mayor from 2017 to 2021.

“I had always thought about [running again for mayor] since 2021,” Molina said. “I was actually considering running regardless of the circumstances of what happened to the current mayor.”

Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza Jr. was set to run for reelection, but stepped out of the candidacy after a cancer diagnosis.

“I have a connection to the mayor that’s there; I have a connection to the other candidates that are running,” Molina said. “I like the fact that we all know each other. We’ve all had working relationships. I think that makes the election very unique because there are no unknowns here; everyone knows the storyline between each and every one of the candidates.”

Ochoa, former Edinburg city attorney and founding attorney of Omar Ochoa Law Firm, said he is focusing on building his supporters.

“[Molina] along with Johnny and myself are the three publicly announced candidates,” he said. “We are focused on building our supporters. We have been getting around to a lot of events in Edinburg. … We are still a ways off from the filing period, which is in July. In the meantime, we’re already trying to get around to talk to as many folks as possible so that they know what my campaign is all about.”

According to the City of Edinburg website, the first day to file for a spot on the general election ballot is on July 19. Political campaign signs can be installed starting July 22.

Garcia, former Edinburg city councilmember and Ceballos-Diaz Funeral Home director, said he wishes Molina well. 

“We are giving the community a choice,” he said. “The community will have an opportunity to select and elect the next person that they feel is in the direction that the city wants to go in.”

Molina said the people liked the work him and the council did when in office.

“[The people] complain about the flooding in the city all the time when it rains heavy, the streets, the potholes, the fact that the curbs are not painted, that the crosswalks are not painted,” he said. “… If we don’t look neat and clean, I think it’s hard for the other things to happen.” 

As per transparency, Molina said thinks showing the people how their tax money is being used and communication with the media helps.

“Being able to show up to work on Cano Street … to get out there and be a hands-on mayor to show them exactly how their money is being used,” he said. “I think social media, doing interviews with [them], our local radio and TV stations and just letting them know, ‘Hey, we had a meeting. This is what we voted on.’”

In 2021, Molina lost his reelection bid due to facing voter fraud allegations. In the end, he was acquitted on trial in August 2022.

“We did have an open trial that was three weeks,” Molina said. “It was placed in the hands of a jury, citizens of my peers. They saw what happened to me was a total injustice and it was a misfortune the way things happened. The people spoke loud and clear that I was not at fault for any of the allegations and that I was not guilty.”

Molina said the situation was a complete “witchhunt” and people saw it for what it was.

“I like serving,” he said. “I won my first election in 2013, and I believe that, in November, the voters are going to speak loud and clear that I’ll be back into office.”