- UTRGV Recognized By ED As Among Schools ‘Doing The Most To Lift Students Up’
- Halloween is a Tradition That Dates Back Many Years
- Esteban Cabrera – December 26, 1945 – October 11, 2024
- Ready for District
- Harlingen Opens First Pump Track in South Texas
- ACE Flag Football
- La Feria ISD Hires Chief of Police for District
- Three Ways To Protect Migratory Birds This Fall
- Goodwill and the RGV Vipers Team Up for a Skills Camp
- Santa Rosa ISD Offers Law Enforcement Cadet Program
Primera Hires New City Manager
- Updated: August 9, 2019
Primera”s newest City Manager, Celina Gonzales, talks about her new job with the City of Primera. Photo: Tony Vindell/LFN
by Tony Vindell/LFN
A new city manager has come on board with the City of Primera and the mayor said he is glad to have someone with a financial background.
Celina Gonzales is the new administrator and probably the first woman to manage this city of about 4,300 residents.
The city operates on a $2.1 million budget that will end on Sept. 30 of this year, down from the previous budget of more than $3.2 million.
Gonzales, 42, reported to work on July 22.
“It’s great to be here,” she said. “Primera is growing and I am looking at ways to make improvements.”
Gonzales said the city needs to upgrade its drainage system.
The city was hit hard during the June 24 flood. Scores of homes were affected by the rising waters and many residents reported losses to personal property.
Gonzales said she would like to establish better relationships with Harlingen Water Works and with Cameron County Drainage District
Number 5 so the city can cope better in the event Mother Nature strikes back.
Before joining the City of Primera, she worked as director with Harlingen Water Works for about a year and as finance director with the City of Los Fresnos from 2007 to 2017.
The city has a workforce about 50.
Mayor Dave Kusch said Gonzales took over Javier Mendez’s job.
“We believe her professionalism and background are good assets for the city,” he said. “She will help Primera grow.”
