“We need to be able to move forward in the right direction,”
by Michael Robinson: Uvalde Hesperian ; Picture by Veronica Martinez
Veronica Martinez, who teaches art at Dalton Elementary School stated she entered the Uvalde Mayor’s race wanting to help the community heal and move forward.
The Uvalde Hesperian asked Martinez what made her decide to run for Mayor.
“I was currently involved in the Uvalde Love Project that worked with our community and involved the children to create the mosaic mural located at El Jardin De Los Heroes. As I worked with the children, I saw the love and the impact this project left in their hearts. I realized I wanted to help my community heal and move forward. Giving back to my community is a huge part in my life. Growing up in Uvalde taught me to be fortunate for what I have. We need to be able to move forward in the right direction,” she said.
Martinez is a native from Uvalde but moved away from Uvalde in 2007 for a few years taking a government job working for the Department of Defense Education or DODE. Her work first took her to Fort Campbell located in Clarksville, Tennessee. She then moved to Fort Carson, Colorado where she served as Mayor representing a small village on the Army Post.
In 2014 she stated she moved back to Uvalde with her two children. After moving back to Uvalde, her daughter, who was then attending Morales Junior High, was being bullied. According to Martinez, she worked within the system to try to resolve the bullying problems her daughter was facing.
Within the past year, she noticed that while her property taxes were supposed to have only incireased by about 10%, her tax bill came in well over that amount. She is currently fighting the Uvalde County Appraisal District over the disputed amount.
“I am running because I have questions about the local government. Uvalde needs a voice,” she said.
Below are some of the questions the Uvalde Hesperian sent to her followed by her answers:
What are some important issues addressing our community?
“Ongoing mental health issues caused by the school shooting are a community wide concern. The need for better support for educators, students and parents – educator staff retention and salaries, addressing teacher fatigue Protecting the community from media, self-interested outsiders, additional threats”
How would a mayor help the town after May 24th?
“A mayor would be a point of contact for any community member to talk to or seek to voice any concern they may have. A mayor with a clear
vision of what the community needs after May 24th. We, as a community, have been through a lot and continue to be under scrutiny.
As an educator, I have seen how Art therapy has helped my students on their journey to understanding and coping with loss. We are now ready to
move forward in our healing process. A mayor would be able to assist, help and offer avenues to help us all move forward as a community.”
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