Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Laredo Mayor & City Council Election 2026

5 of 9

council seats up

5 contests

14 candidates

Updated Oct 2, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Mayor · 1 seat

Poncho CassoFormer Laredo City Council member who served in the 1990s and ran for mayor in 2022.4sourced
Alyssa CigarroaDistrict 8 council member who won the seat as a write-in candidate in 2020. Co-founder and president of the local nonprofit Cultivarte and executive administrator of the Cigarroa Interventional Institute.9sourced
Jorge A. GarzaMayoral candidate listed on the 2026 ballot as Jorge A. Garza (full name Jorge Alberto Garza).1sourced
JD GonzalezLicensed U.S. customs broker since 1994 and U.S. Navy veteran. Chairman of the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America and chair of the Laredo Airport Advisory Board.2sourced
Victor D. TreviñoIncumbentFormer City of Laredo health authority who guided the city through the Covid pandemic. Earlier served as medical director of the city health department.11sourced

City Council District 1 · 1 seat

City Council District 2 · 1 seat

City Council District 3 · 1 seat

City Council District 6 · 1 seat

Every Laredo voter picks a mayor; voters in Districts 1, 2, 3 and 6 also pick their council member. A candidate needs a majority, or the top two go to a runoff.

1 note on these statements

Jorge A. Garza did not attend the Kiwanis Club of Laredo mayoral forum on Sept. 22, 2026. Laredo Morning Times · Sep 23, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Ricardo "Rick" GarzaCouncilmember, District 4; seat not on the 2026 ballot7sourced Ruben Gutierrez Jr.Councilmember, District 5; seat not on the 2026 ballot7sourced Vanessa PerezCouncilmember, District 7; seat not on the 2026 ballot5sourced

Start here

Match quiz6 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesWater supply and pipes, International bridge tolls, City manager Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Last day to register to vote

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Water supply and pipes

Where it standsLaredo signed agreements in 2026 for up to 90 million gallons a day from secondary sources, while still replacing aging water lines.

What's on the tableWhether to approve financing, rates and long-term purchase commitments under the Legacy water agreement, and how much to spend on pipe replacement.

Agreements signed in June and August 2026 could provide up to 90 million gallons of water per day beyond the Rio Grande. Laredo Morning Times · Aug 7, 2026
The city uses about 37 million gallons a day and holds about 55 million gallons a day in Rio Grande water rights, the city manager said. KGNS · Aug 7, 2026
Final financing commitments, rate impacts and long-term purchase commitments under the Legacy wholesale water agreement remain subject to later council approval. City Council minutes, July 27, 2026 · Jul 27, 2026
The council voted in August 2026 to substantially increase the budget for pipe replacement beyond about $130 million already committed. City Council minutes, Aug. 17, 2026 · Aug 17, 2026

International bridge tolls

Where it standsIn June 2026 the council approved toll increases on city bridges, phased in through January 2031.

What's on the tableWhether to keep the annual phased toll increases on schedule.

The ordinance sets revised tolls for commercial vehicles, non-commercial vehicles and pedestrians, with an initial increase and annual adjustments each January. City Council minutes, June 15, 2026 · Jun 15, 2026
The money is for operations, debt service and bridge improvements, including the World Trade Bridge and Colombia Solidarity Bridge. City Council minutes, June 15, 2026 · Jun 15, 2026

City manager

Where it standsIn February 2026 the council voted 8-1 to continue City Manager Joseph Neeb's contract for one more year.

What's on the tableWhether to renew or end the city manager's contract at his next annual review.

The council voted 8-1 to continue Joseph Neeb's contract for one more year after his annual review. City Council special meeting minutes, Feb. 11, 2026 · Feb 11, 2026
Voters approved a 2024 charter amendment requiring six votes to remove the city manager. City of Laredo · Nov 18, 2024

Flock license-plate cameras

Where it standsWith state funding paused, the council voted 7-2 in September 2026 to plan a non-binding referendum on funding the city's 165 Flock cameras.

What's on the tableWhether to pay about $1 million a year from local funds to keep the cameras running.

Laredo will ask voters for advice on whether to devote $1 million a year to keep 165 Flock cameras operating. The Texas Tribune · Sep 24, 2026
The earliest date for a standalone city referendum is May 1, 2027, and an election is expected to cost about $170,000. Laredo Morning Times · Sep 22, 2026
The council approved a $5 million, five-year Flock contract in January 2026 without public discussion. The Texas Tribune · Sep 24, 2026

Pediatric hospital services

Where it standsVoters will answer non-binding Proposition 1 on Nov. 3 about supporting expanded pediatric hospital services.

What's on the tableWhat the city does after the advisory vote, including whether to encourage Webb County to evaluate governmental options.

Proposition 1 asks whether the city should support efforts to expand pediatric hospital services and encourage Webb County to evaluate available governmental options under Texas law. City of Laredo · Aug 17, 2026
The vote is non-binding and does not by itself authorize any hospital, tax, debt or spending. City of Laredo · Aug 17, 2026
The council ordered the non-binding election 7-1 in August 2026. City Council minutes, Aug. 17, 2026 · Aug 17, 2026

Budget and property taxes

Where it standsThe council advanced a $1.02 billion budget for 2026-27 and a tax rate of $0.506080 per $100, slightly below the prior rate.

What's on the tableNext year's budget and tax rate, after voters rejected a $417 million bond package in May 2025.

Taxes on the median-valued homestead are estimated to rise from $985.49 to $1,062.26 because of higher taxable values. Laredo Morning Times · Sep 16, 2026
The proposed rate was set between the no-new-revenue rate of about $0.49 and the voter-approval rate of about $0.52. Laredo Morning Times · Sep 16, 2026
More than 80% of voters rejected the city's bond referendum in May 2025. Laredo Morning Times · May 6, 2025

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

1. Laredo has signed deals to buy water from outside suppliers such as Legacy Water Supply Corp. What should the city do next?
2. Should Laredo keep raising international bridge tolls each year through 2031 to pay for bridge upgrades?
3. Should the next council keep City Manager Joseph Neeb?
4. If state money does not return, should Laredo pay about $1 million a year to keep its Flock license-plate cameras?
5. Should the city back efforts to expand pediatric hospital services in Laredo and Webb County?
6. What should happen to Laredo's property tax rate?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Last day to register to voteCity of LaredoOct 5, 2026
Early voting beginsCity of LaredoOct 19, 2026
Last day to apply for a ballot by mailCity of LaredoOct 23, 2026
Early voting endsCity of LaredoOct 30, 2026
Election DayCity of LaredoNov 3, 2026
District 8 special election (separate ballot)City of LaredoDec 5, 2026

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Ricardo "Rick" Garza, Ruben Gutierrez Jr., Vanessa Perez5 on this ballot

9 council seats. The council decides by a 5-vote majority.

The City Council is made up of the mayor and eight council members. City of Laredo Charter
Voters elect the mayor citywide to a four-year term, with a limit of two elected four-year terms. City of Laredo Charter
Council members serve four-year terms and may be elected to no more than two terms. City of Laredo Charter
A candidate must win a majority of the votes cast for the office; otherwise the top two candidates go to a runoff. City of Laredo Charter
Voters approved a 2024 charter amendment allowing the mayor to vote in all cases. City of Laredo · Nov 18, 2024
The Nov. 3, 2026 ballot includes Mayor and Council Districts 1, 2, 3 and 6. City of Laredo

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