Richard F. Cortez

Personal Profile – Who is the Candidate?

• Place of Birth and Current Residence: Born in Mercedes, Texas, and raised in Weslaco, Richard F. Cortez is a lifelong resident of the Rio Grande Valley and currently resides in Hidalgo County.
• Brief Life Story: A product of the RGV, Judge Cortez built a successful career as a Certified Public Accountant before dedicating his life to public service. His journey has taken him from being a partner in a local accounting firm to serving the citizens of McAllen as City Commissioner and later as Mayor. Driven by a desire to make a broader impact, he was elected as Hidalgo County Judge in 2018, bringing his financial expertise and leadership to the entire county.
• Academic Background: He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Pan American College (now The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley).
• Values & Personal Causes: Judge Cortez is a strong advocate for fiscal responsibility, economic opportunity, and regional cooperation. He is personally committed to tackling generational poverty through education and job creation, a cause that inspired him to create the Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force.

Professional Experience

• Previous Positions Held:
  • Mayor, City of McAllen (2005-2013)
  • City Commissioner, City of McAllen
  • Certified Public Accountant & Partner, Burton McCumber and Cortez, L.L.P.
• Key Achievements:
  • Spearheaded the creation of the Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force to find innovative solutions to reduce poverty.
  • Oversaw the management and financing of the new, state-of-the-art Hidalgo County Courthouse, ensuring the project was fiscally sound.
  • Led the county’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, prioritizing public health and economic stability.
  • Championed critical investments in the county’s drainage infrastructure to mitigate flooding and protect property.
• Recognitions & Awards:
  • Recognized as “Man of the Year” by the McAllen Chamber of Commerce for his civic leadership and contributions to the community.

Key Proposals

• Title: Economic Growth & Job Creation
• Description: Continue to attract new industries and investment to Hidalgo County while supporting our local small businesses. By expanding the work of the Prosperity Task Force, we can create more high-paying jobs and ensure our residents have the skills to fill them.

• Title: Modernizing Our Infrastructure
• Description: Secure state and federal funding to aggressively pursue critical drainage and transportation projects. An investment in our roads, bridges, and flood-control systems is an investment in our safety, quality of life, and future growth.

• Title: A Safe & Healthy Community
• Description: Enhance public health services and ensure all residents have access to quality care. We will continue to support our first responders and law enforcement with the resources they need to keep our neighborhoods safe and improve emergency response times county-wide.