Reprint from the Progress Times - February 2, 2007
©Progress Times 2007 - All Rights Reserved

O’caña Is Heading Slate Of Candidates in City Election

Mission Place 3 City Councilman Dr. Armando O’caña will be heading a slate of candidates in the upcoming city election.

Also on the ticket with O’caña, who is seeking the mayor post, will be Ruben Sanchez, City Council, Place 1, and David Vela, City Council, Place 3.

Campaign slogan for the three-person ticket is "Mission Is Our Vision."

O'cana was the first to toss his hat into the ring for upcoming race for the office of mayor in the May 12 city election.

None of the candidates has formally filed for the office since the first day to file for any of the offices up for election is Saturday, Feb. 10.

"I feel that with God, my family, my friends and community support, I can serve and expand Mission progress and continue the city's growth, wealth and prosperities to all quadrants of our great city," O’Caña said in his prepared announcement.

Sanchez is owner of Colair, Inc., and for the past 22 years has provided service for both residential and commercial customers.

"I feel that being a successful businessman creates leadership skills that are attributes that can transfer to serving our citizens in the role of council person for Place 1," he said in his announcement.

He added that he favors a fixed tax rate for all of the city's senior citizens, especially those on a fixed retirement income. "I believe every citizen of Mission should live without fear of intimidation, free of crime, and have the fundamental quality of life everyone dreams of."

Vela, who will be seeking the seat being vacated by O’caña, said in his announcement, "If elected, I will be the people's voice, the people's vote and also the people's leader in addressing problems that have plagued our city. Fixing our city's roads and alleys are a few of the problems that need to be addressed to make our community a better and more prosperous city."

O'cana said he believes he has proven himself to be an honest, trustworthy and fair visionary leader. "I have the experience, skills and knowledge to serve the citizens of Mission during hard times as well as progressive and prosperous ones," he added.

The mayoral candidate noted he previously favored a tax cut not approved by the council and had voted against raising water and sewer rates. "I will support an expansion of our current services provided cost stays within the concept of being fiscal responsible to our citizens," he said.

O’Caña added during his two terms on the council he felt taxpayers should get an across the board cut, not just in some areas.

O'cana cited his experience on the council as the mayor's liaison to the Mission Boys and Girls Club and noted that he has represented all elected county officials as an Hidalgo County 911 committee member.

He said he also has assisted the Amigos del Valle Board, has 10 years experience as a city employee (fire chief) and six years of experience on the city council.

He said he wants to name several commissions to oversee areas of concern including international affairs, homeland security, juvenile and elderly services and environmental and natural resource protection.

He said each commission will stand alone but will be united under one premise - serving the best interests of all Mission citizens.

"I pledge that I am committed to our taxpayers to protect these tax dollars and maximize use of each dollar under the same rationale, understanding and philosophy I use with my personal money," he said.

Cited as three major concerns were street and drainage improvements, sidewalks for school facilities and modernization of all parks.

He added some of the major accomplishments during his tenure on the council have included expansion of city facilities such as the library, fire station, sewage plant and water facilities.

O'cana cited projects that need to be completed in the next three years - the international bridge, emergency center, another fire station, northwest and southwest parks, an overpass connecting South and North Inspiration Road, widening of Inspiration Road, finishing North Los Ebanos Road, aggressively annexing the northwest quadrant of the city, preparing plans for an international airport in northwest Mission and a sewer plant.

The mayoral candidate and his wife, Maria de Jesus Ortega O'cana, have three sons, Armando Jr., Johnathan Lee and Matthew James O'cana, three grandchildren and three step-grandchildren.

An educator for 33 years, he has been a math teacher, counselor, assistant principal, principal and a director with the La Joya Independent School District.

He is vice-president of HEROES, Inc., an organization available to first responders during crisis situations.

He also has been a Texas Association of Sports Officials member for more than 30 years and has prepared 12 Licensed Professional Counselors (LPs) to pass their national level tests.

O'cana is the founder of AJM&M All Purpose Counseling Center, is a master firefighter with the Commission on Fire Protection, and is an arson investigator and certified international firefighter instructor.

He is a member of the National and Texas Associations of Secondary Principals, a service provider for the Texas Department of Health and a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.

He is a graduate of Texas A&M-College Station, University of Texas-Pan American, Texas Southmost College-Brownsville, Mission High School and Our Lady of Guadalupe School.

"I have resided in Mission all of my 51 years with my family having more than 75 years of residency in Mission," he said, adding he promises to work for a balanced and responsible budget, better police and fire protection, street, drainage and sidewalk improvements and new parks and other projects to continue Mission's current progress.

"I will be working with the area cities to improve overall regional growth too," he concluded.

In addition to the mayor's office currently held by Norberto Salinas, O’Cana’s Place 3 council seat and Celestino Ramirez's Place 1 seat are up for election.

Filing deadline is March 12.

The Ruben Sanchez’ family has resided in Mission continuously for the past 50 years. The candidate, son of Adolfo and Socorro Sanchez, is a 1975 graduate of Mission High School. In 1978, he received an associate degree in refrigeration and air conditioning technology.

He and his wife, Anna Alicia Vela Sanchez, have been married 28 years and they have five children - Patricia Ann, Adolfo Ruben, Anthony Richard, Adrian Rene and Loryn Elizabeth.

The family attends St. Paul's Catholic Church.

Sanchez's company was chosen by the U.S. government as a certified 8A General Contractor and Construction Manager, a certification that allows him to negotiate for federal construction and management services. He also holds a homebuilder license.

"Thank you all for allowing me the chance to serve Mission as a businessman. I now wish to give back to the city all the opportunities that it has offered to me by serving in Place One on the Council," he concluded.

Vela is the son of Jose "Chito" Vela and Maria Alma DeRueda Vela, brother of Sandra E. Vela and grandson of Chito and Emma Vela and Eulogio and Blanca De Rueda, all of Mission.

He and his wife of three years have two children, Yvette, 11, and Rene David, one.

A 1998 Mission High School graduate, Vela attended the University of Texas-Brownsville on a baseball scholarship.

He noted that his position as vice president of Zapata International Ltd. Co., an oil drilling fluids company which conducts business in both the U.S. and Mexico will provide a useful foundation in the continuous progress of Mission.

Vela, who served during his younger years as a mentor for the Mission Boys and Girls Club, said his youthful energy will help the city's youth programs and also implement other ideas so that every child or student can get the necessary tools to excel in school.