RACHEL CABALLERO (R)
What is/was your profession? Are you now retired?
I own a small bookkeeping business & have been in business since 2005.
What relevant experience can you bring to office?
I have a strong bookkeeping & light accounting background that will help me review county financials and determine any overages or shortfalls in my precinct that can be changed to positively impact the community.
How have your life experiences prepared you for this position?
ALL of my life experiences have prepared me for this position. I help locally owned small businesses maintain and keep track of their financials. I am passionate, a hard worker, I fight for what is right and I love my community.
Which problems would you address on your first day in office?
Realistically, the first day will be introductions and acclimating. My goal is to make sure that my precinct is run efficiently and cost effectively. I hope to review all outstanding projects, levels of completion, review budgets and get an overall understanding of operations. I hope that we can bring customer service back to the community and making us the priority.
What do you see as long-term issues which need to be addressed throughout your time in office?
Spending and infrastructure repair. County roads & culverts are not being maintained in many areas of town. I would like to be more efficient with our tax dollars in getting as much accomplished as possible.
What is local government doing well right now that needs to be expanded further?
There has been a more in depth review of spending. Our current county judge has cut some spending and is making some fiscally responsible decisions. I would like for that to become the norm.
MIKE PUSLEY (R)
What is/was your profession? Are you now retired?
I am retired after a 40-year career in the Oil and Gas Exploration business.
What relevant experience can you bring to office?
I have served in numerous elected and appointed positions since 1986 including the Precinct One County Commissioner for 9 years (2009 - 2018). Please see my website at www.mikepusley.com [mikepusley.com] for a full list of both appointed and elected positions and other community involvement. My vast experience as an elected official, especially as county commissioner, will allow me get up t speed quickly and to begin the process of working with county officials in all departments to help solve problems and help them reach the goals they have set for their respective departments. There are 38 elected officials in Nueces County government and I have experience working with all of them. I see this as one of my main strengths in getting up to speed quickly with solving problems county government is experiencing.
How have your life experiences prepared you for this position? My vast business experience plus my extensive background in service to our community, including both appointed and elected positions. I enjoyed a very successful business career and I have always used the lessons I learned in business to help make sound decisions as an elected official. I am also a strong family person and I understand the importance that family plays in the lives of county officials and employees. We must always think about and respect the challenges that people experience in their daily lives outside their work environment.
Which problems would you address on your first day in office? Balancing the County budget. The county is experiencing a number of budget challenges and I am very confident that my past experience as a county commissioner will bring much needed help to the goal of a balanced budget. I have already acquired a copy of the county budget and familiarizing myself with all the current budget issues. I have also visited with the County Judge and other commissioners to get their insight on the most pressing issues currently impacting county government.
What do you see as long-term issues which need to be addressed throughout your time in office?
There are several but one of the main issues has to do with the poor condition of the County Jail facilities, the jail facility at the courthouse and the McKinzie annex. To be able to continue meeting the State mandated jail standards there will have to be significant upgrades to both of these facilities. Of course the challenge there is where does the money come from. Also, the county has and continues to struggle with manpower issues at the jail and that issue needs to be addressed.
What is local government doing well right now that needs to be expanded further?
As far as the county government is concerned they do a number of things that are positive for the entire community but one that we need to look at and probably expand is our service to local veterans. The county offers a number of important services to our local Veterans but we need to make sure we are keeping up with the issues that are impacting their lives and the lives of their dependents. I have been meeting with local veterans and attending the Veterans Round Table meetings to familiarize myself with their issues and challenges.
ROBERT HERNANDEZ (D)
JESSE MOLINA (D)
What is your profession?
I am a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC). I have been working as a LCDC for approx. 17 yrs. and approx. 22 years in helping field working with people.
What relevant experience can you bring to the office?
I served in the United States Navy and working with people you have to have communication skills and be able to research information. Working in programs with agency such as Substance Abuse Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA), Federal Bureau of Prison, Federal Probation, and State you learn to pay attention to details to allow for continuation of services and payment.
How have your life experiences prepared you for this position?
As a LCDC working in the field, I have been fortunate to be able to make a positive difference in peoples lives and would like to make a positive difference in a large scale. I know what it is like to overcome obstacles.
Which problems would you address on your first day in office?
Bringing back accountability, accessibility, communication, and trustworthiness which have been lacking Commissioner Precinct 1 office.
What do you see as long-term issues with need to be addressed throughout your time in office?
Doctor residency program, infrastructure, roads, and economic development which impact Precinct 1 and the rest of the County. We need to ensure Doctor residency program is around for generations to come. As well as, Bring decent job with living wages and employer health insurance. Create diversity in different types of industry that improve the quality of life for residents of Precinct 1 and the County.
What is local government doing well right now that needs to be expanded further?
We can improve and/or expanded healthcare services: screening, mental health and drug/alcohol, increase public comment/participation and voter participation/turnout.
