08 Oct District II Forum Ends With Verbal Confrontation Outside City Hall

Rivals Spar Over Water Lines and Neglect at City Forum

Incumbent Ricardo “Richie” Rangel Jr. and challenger Daisy Campos Rodriguez went head to head Wednesday night at a city-hosted forum for the District II council seat, the Laredo Morning Times reported. The two argued over infrastructure money and which of them has done more for south Laredo.

Campos Rodriguez, who has served on the council before, said she has been to all three District II forums. She pointed out that Rangel missed the Oct. 6 forum at TAMIU. She said people in the district feel they’ve been overlooked for roughly three years and encouraged voters to judge the incumbent by his results. Rangel defended his record, saying some of his projects took extra work to fund.

Both named water infrastructure as a major concern. They disagreed on what should come first.

Rangel said the district’s aging water lines can’t handle south Laredo’s rapid growth. He said about 30% of the city’s lines need to be replaced and that only a small share has been done so far. He also named drainage work and a planned overpass as top priorities, and said the city needs to build up its infrastructure before approving more development.

Campos Rodriguez said water projects have their own funding source, so council members can use their discretionary money on parks, sidewalks and street safety. She put District II’s share at about $500,000 a year.

The two also split on funding for nonprofits. Campos Rodriguez cited her past work with nonprofits through the Webb County Public Health Department. Rangel said the city’s third-party funding process, and a new committee that reviews applications, should make sure public money is spent carefully.

On getting young people involved in city government, Campos Rodriguez suggested job-shadowing and internships through schools and local institutions. Rangel pointed to programs already in place, including dual-credit classes, CDL training and services at the Sophie Christen McKendrick, Francisco Ochoa and Fernando A. Salinas Branch Library.

Words Outside City Hall

Shortly after the forum ended, an argument broke out outside the building. A man in a pickup truck approached Rangel as he was leaving, and a second man soon joined him.

The man in the truck, speaking Spanish, accused Rangel’s supporters of making inappropriate gestures at people in the crowd backing Campos Rodriguez. Witnesses said backers of both campaigns had traded similar gestures during the forum.

Laredo police officers assigned to the event stepped in right away, separated everyone involved and told the crowd to clear out. Authorities said it stayed verbal, and no physical violence was reported.

A Rematch With a History

The tension fits the history between the two. On election night in 2022, Campos Rodriguez led by six votes, 1,957 to 1,951, and took office.

Rangel sued, claiming dozens of people had voted using District II addresses where they didn’t actually live. In February 2023, a visiting judge threw out illegal votes cast for Campos Rodriguez and ruled that Rangel had won. Campos Rodriguez disputed the ruling and kept her seat while she appealed.

The Fourth Court of Appeals sided with Rangel in November 2023. On Jan. 26, 2024, the Texas Supreme Court declined to take up her appeal, and Rangel was sworn in that same day.

The forum was part of the city’s Laredo Votes voter education effort ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. Early voting runs Oct. 19 through Oct. 30.