FAR WEST TEXAS — The general membership of the Rio Grande Council of Governments selected officers to their board of directors for Fiscal Year 2021 on Friday, September 25 through a virtual meeting. Outgoing President Alexsandra Annello passed her duties to incoming President Cinderela Guevara, the Presidio County judge. City of El Paso Representative Peter Svarzbein was elected as First Vice President, and Valentine Mayor Summer Webb was elected as Second Vice President.
The terms for all three board officers run from October 1, 2020, through September 30, 2021. Judge Guevara is a native of Marfa and is a U.S. Army veteran. Judge Guevara said, “It has truly been an honor and privilege these past six years to meet with all of you to work on projects, set priorities, resolve situations, and all in all to embrace whatever goal is before us for the purpose and plan of each particular meeting.” She thanked the general membership for the opportunity to serve as president, and looked forward to the coming year despite the pandemic.
Guevara is currently the President of the Presidio International Port Authority, on her second term as Chairman of Big Bend Community Action Board, served two terms as Chairman for Presidio County’s appraisal district and is a member of several committees for the advancement of Presidio County. Guevara said, “It is an honor to have been nominated and look forward to working with everyone in the region.”
The RGCOG is a voluntary association comprised of local governments, school districts and special political subdivision districts along the Rio Grande border supporting the counties (as well as the incorporated and unincorporated communities) of Brewster, Culberson, El Paso, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Presidio and Doña Ana in New Mexico.
Annette Gutierrez, who serves as their executive director, presented the annual budget, which is at $8.8 million dollars, as well as the Work Program for 2021. For this coming fiscal year, Gutierrez highlighted new programs that will be administered. These programs include the Economic Development Administration CARES program and the Pre-Disaster Hazard Mitigation Planning program. For more information about the RGCOG, visit www.riocog.org.