VOTE 2004

Meet Sabás Zapata III,
candidate for Laredo City Council

In the interest of informing voters about those who seek to serve in public office, LareDOS offers this look at City Council candidate Sabás Zapata III, who will face incumbent Johnny Amaya in the spring 2004 elections. As of press time, Mr. Amaya did not get his answers to LareDOS.
LareDOS: Give us your background in Laredo as well as information about your education and employment experience, the name of your spouse and your children, where you grew up in Laredo, and where you reside now.
Sabás Zapata III: With exception of my college and Army days, I have been a lifelong resident of Laredo. I grew up at 716 Clark Blvd. (kind of in the middle of District IV) and attended Buenos Aires Elementary (also in the district) for first and second grade. I then transferred to St. Joseph's Academy and graduated in1964. At St. Joe I was a standout in sports -- football, basketball, and track. I was all-state in football and track. I was the MVP in my senior year. I then attended St. Edward's University on a track scholarship and graduated in 1968 with a BS in secondary education. While at St. Ed's I received the Fr. McGuire track award my senior year as the top trackman. I was inducted into the St. Edward's University Sports Hall of Fame in 1987. One of the first two Hispanics so honored.
After my college days, I enlisted in Texas Army National Guard and served honorably for six years (1968-1974), achieving the rank of E-5 (SGT).
As soon as I came back from army training, I began working as a teacher/coach (Jan. '69) at Nixon High School. I coached junior varsity football, cross country, and track. I left the teaching profession in May '74. In September of '74 I began working for the Webb County Manpower Programs as a program coordinator, and my last assignment was that of the chief planner. I left Manpower in 1979. In January '80, I was hired as the personnel director for the Webb Tax Office and the Webb County Appraisal District. I moved to the County Judge's office in 1984 and worked as the administrative assistant to Judge C.Y. Benavides, Jr. I left in December '86. In January of 1987, I went to work for International Bank of Commerce as an officer trainee in the marketing department. I moved to senior vice president in charge of domestic marketing. I left in December of '96. Mercy Health Center offered me a job as the director of planning and marketing in January of 1997. I left in August of 2003. My current employer is Falcon International Bank, where I'm an executive vice president overseeing the marketing and business development department, the insurance company, and the international department.
I'm married to the former Catharine Grace Klinger Reyna and we have one son, Sabás IV. I also have three children, Grace Marie, Christina Laura, and Luis Sabás from a previous marriage. I have six grandchildren.
I currently reside at 2305 O'Kane St., which is in the eastern part of District IV.
What have you learned about public service in the years you have been an elected public servant?
I have served as a college trustee for 18-plus years. In other words, I'm not a rookie. I'm a seasoned elected official. In these years of service I've learned that fiscal responsibility takes priority. Doing what is right and not what's popular. Seeing the big picture or the grand scheme of things is very important. One must be able to anticipate the demands of the future. I have also learned to respect the opinions and initiatives of my colleagues.
In the course of making decisions for the entity on which you serve, you are faced with a great deal of information. How do you discern between the mass of information you receive and the salient information you really need to make good decisions? How do you remain focused on the hard issues?
My practice has always been to peruse the information and become informed about the subject matter. I would also rely on the proper personnel and personal advisors to assist me in understanding the issues. I would also rely on my constituents to share with me their thoughts and desires. I believe that I would remain focused on the hard issues by prioritizing them on a district level and a city-wide level.
What decision making skills do you bring to a forum like City Council? Characterize your business acumen.
As I said before, I bring 18-plus years of experience to the table with a strong record of making sound business decisions. Not all of these choices have come easily. Proper research by experienced personnel plays a big role in making wise and informed decisions. No one can do this alone. As a city councilman, just as any good businessman, one relies on the combined talents and resources available to choose wisely and succeeds.
Are you a team player?
I'm definitely a team player. I have seen first hand the fruits that teamwork bears. Beginning with my background in team sports as an athlete and coach and extending into my business career as well local civic involvement, my successes all serve as living proof of my firm belief in teamwork.
Characterize this City Council's ability to make good decisions that benefit the general populace.
Overall, it's been good. Not every citizen is happy with every decision that the council has made. But, by and large, I believe they've made a sincere effort to move Laredo in the right direction. We're not there yet. But we're headed there.
There is a perception that this City Council is so pro-growth and pro-development that other important quality of life issues hang in the balance, like the environment, parks, and the state of the cityscape in general. Give us your ideas about this.
Everyone wishes they could live in a "green" city like our state capitol. Austin, I believe, sets the example for what we should strive for from an environmental perspective. I lived there during my collegiate years at St. Edward's University and my younger brother Jorge currently works for the Austin Parks and Recreation Department. I've seen first hand the positive impact of being environmentally sensitive. Laredo is behind the times in that aspect. However, the City of Laredo has taken measures and steps to begin addressing these sensitive issues. The fairly new Recycling Center off McPherson and Clark Blvd. is one good example. The Blue Bag recycling campaign is another.The free mulch in the area behind the local public library off Calton Road is another. The establishment of the Environmental Services Department is another step in the right direction. The Parks and Rec master plan to build hike and bike nature trails along the Chacon and Zacate Creeks all the way to the Río Grande is another. And in any event there is still plenty more work to be accomplished. And it needs to be done intelligently, taking into consideration the minimal rainfall in Laredo.
Where do you stand environmentally?
I'm Catholic and the Bible teaches us that we are caretakers of the earth. We should make every effort to protect its resources and not take them for granted.
If you had to name three issues that have priority for you as a taxpayer residing in Laredo and a decision maker serving on City Council, what would they be?
The three issues are (1) sound fiscal management, (2) Fire and Police protection. In light of the new war on terrorism, new light has been shed on an old dilemma -- we're the frontline of defense. Our family, friends, and neighbors that wear the different uniforms need to have the resources available to protect us; and (3) the lack of adequate park land city-wide and especially in District IV
What is your interest in serving on the Laredo City Council?
My biggest interest in serving on the city council focuses on giving my constituents an independent vote.
What are the specific issues that face your district?
The same ones facing the city as a whole. Quality of life issues, including developing an educated labor force that will allow us to lure more industry to Laredo. As I mentioned earlier, police and fire issues and recreational areas and activities for people of all ages.