Blanca Vela

Blanca Sanchez Vela (May 27, 1936 – February 19, 2014) was an American politician and matriarch of one of the most prominent families in Brownsville, Texas.[1] Vela, who served as the Mayor of Brownsville from 1999 until 2003, was the city's first female mayor.[1][2] She remains the only woman to hold the mayoral office to date.[1][3] Vela was married to the late United States federal judge Filemon Vela Sr., while her three children include U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela Jr. (D-Texas).[1]

Blanca Sanchez Vela
Mayor of Brownsville, Texas
In office
1999 – June 10, 2003
Preceded byHenry Gonzalez
Succeeded byEddie Treviño
Personal details
Born(1936-05-27)May 27, 1936
Harlingen, Texas, U.S.
DiedFebruary 19, 2014(2014-02-19) (aged 77)
Brownsville, Texas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseFilemon Vela Sr. (1962-2004)

Early life and education

Vela was born Blanca Sanchez in Harlingen, Texas, on May 27, 1936.[4] Her parents, Luis M. Sanchez and Maria R. "Cuca" Sanchez, were Mexican immigrants who moved to the United States from Linares, Nuevo León, and Zacatecas, respectively, when both were teenagers.[4] They first met each other in Harlingen.[4] Her father worked for the Missouri Pacific Railroad while her mother worked as a homemaker.[4] Blanca Sanchez, who was the eldest of her parents' nine children, was raised in Harlingen.[4]

She married her husband, Filemon Vela, Sr., in 1962.[4] He was later appointed a U.S. federal judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. The couple had three children: Filemon Vela, Jr., Rafael (Ralph), and Sylvia.[4]

Vela began her college career by taking the bus from Harlingen to Brownsville to attend Texas Southmost College, a community college. She later earned both her bachelor's degree and a master's degree.[4][5]

Career

Public service

Prior to her election as mayor in 1999, Vela served on the Brownsville Public Utilities Board (PUB), including a stint as the board's chairperson from 1995 until July 1998.[3][4][6] She and Betty Dodd co-founded of the Brownsville Public Library Foundation in 1994.[3][4][6] Blanca Vela also became the first woman to hold a seat on the Brownsville National Bank's board of directors.[4]

Mayor of Brownsville

Vela announced her candidacy for Mayor on August 28, 1998, as a challenger to incumbent Mayor Henry Gonzalez, who was seeking re-election for a third term.[6] She defeated Gonzalez in the city's mayoral election on May 1, 1999.[5][7] Vela garnered 3,003 votes (56%), while Gonzalez placed second with 2,379 votes (44%).[7]

On January 7, 2003, Mayor Blanca Vela announced that she would not seek re-election for a second term in a speech in front of the Market Square fountain.[8][9] Her departure set off a competitive 2003 mayoral campaign between city commissioner Eddie Treviño and former Mayor Henry Gonzalez.[8] Treviño and Gonzalez placed first and second (out of four candidates) in the election held on May 3, 2003, which qualified them for the runoff.[10] In the runoff election held on June 7, 2003, Treviño won 4,377 votes (64.13%), defeating Gonzalez, who earned 2,448 votes (35.86%) to succeed Vela as mayor.[11]

Vela left office on June 10, 2003.[12] Vela issued as statement thanking her family and the citizens of the city as her last act in office.[12] In a speech following his oath of office on the same day, her successor, Mayor Eddie Treviño Jr., thanked Vela for her service as his first act as mayor.[12] Vela's official portrait, which was hung in commission chambers, was also unveiled on June 10.[12]

Vela died of natural causes at her home in Brownsville on February 16, 2014, at the age of 78.[1][2] She was survived by her three children, Sylvia, Ralph, and U.S. Congressman Filemon Vela Jr.[3] Her husband, Judge Filemon Vela, Sr., died on April 13, 2004.[13]

References
  1. Johnson, Ty (2014-02-18). "Former Brownsville mayor, feminist 'trailblazer' Blanca Vela dies at 78". The Monitor (Texas). Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  2. Martinez, Laura B. (2014-02-19). "Former Brownsville Mayor Blanca Vela dies". Brownsville Herald. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  3. "Brownsville's former and only female mayor, Blanca Vela, passes away". KVEO. 2014-02-19. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  4. "Interview with Blanca Vela". University of Texas at Arlington Center for Mexican American Studies. 1999-11-24. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  5. Booth, Brittany (2003-04-20). "Vela makes mark in four years as mayor". Brownsville Herald. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  6. Guajardo, Marcial (1998-08-28). "Blanca Vela announces interest in mayor's job". Brownsville Herald. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  7. "Dallas, San Antonio Mayors Reelected". Los Angeles Times. 1999-05-02. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  8. Booth, Brittany (2003-01-18). "City Commission produces two mayoral candidates Election: Hernandez, Trevio to seek post". Brownsville Herald. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  9. Booth, Brittany (2003-01-08). "Mayor wont seek re-election Wide open: Several officials consider running for citys highest office". Brownsville Herald. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  10. Booth, Brittany (2003-06-01). "Gonzalez ready to regain mayors seat". Brownsville Herald. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  11. Booth, Brittany (2003-06-08). "Trevio elected mayor". Brownsville Herald. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  12. Booth, Brittany (2003-06-11). "Trevio, new commissioners take oaths of office". Brownsville Herald. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  13. Martinez, Laura B. (2004-02-08). "Judge Filemon Vela loses battle with stomach cancer". Brownsville Herald. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
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