The Brownsville city commissioners are the seven elected officials who make up the Brownsville City Commission, the governing body of Brownsville, Texas. The Commission is made up of the Mayor, two at-large commissioners, and four district commissioners, and it holds the city’s legislative power: passing ordinances, setting the property tax rate, adopting the annual budget, and appointing the City Manager, City Secretary, and City Attorney.1City of Brownsville. Charter of the City of Brownsville
Who Currently Serves on the Commission
The seven seats are held by:
- John Cowen, Jr., Mayor
- Tino Villarreal, Jr., Commissioner, At-Large “A”
- Nurith Galonsky, Commissioner, At-Large “B”
- Bryan L. Martinez, Commissioner, District 1
- Linda C. Macias, Commissioner, District 2
- Gustavo De León, Commissioner, District 3
- Pedro Cardenas, Commissioner, District 4
Four commissioners each represent a specific geographic district within the city. The two at-large commissioners and the Mayor represent Brownsville as a whole.2City of Brownsville. City Commission
What the Commissioners Do
The Commission’s core authority is legislative. Its members enact the ordinances, resolutions, and motions that carry the force of law inside city limits, covering zoning and land use, public safety regulations, entertainment district boundaries, and the rest of the local code.1City of Brownsville. Charter of the City of Brownsville
Budget and Property Tax
Commissioners approve the annual municipal budget. Brownsville’s fiscal year runs October 1 through September 30, and the budget must be adopted before the current fiscal year ends.1City of Brownsville. Charter of the City of Brownsville That vote controls how public money flows to every city department and service.
They also set the property tax rate. The rate for fiscal year 2025 was $0.603504 per $100 of assessed value.3City of Brownsville. Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Increase
Key Appointments
The Commission appoints three officials who report to it rather than to voters directly: the City Manager, who runs day-to-day operations and supervises city staff; the City Secretary, who handles the city’s official records; and the City Attorney, who provides legal counsel.1City of Brownsville. Charter of the City of Brownsville
How the Seats Are Structured
Article III of the Brownsville City Charter establishes the Commission as a seven-member body and vests all powers of the city government in it, except where the Charter or Texas state law provides otherwise.1City of Brownsville. Charter of the City of Brownsville The four district seats give different parts of the city localized representation. The two at-large positions, designated At-Large “A” and At-Large “B,” broaden the Commission’s perspective past any single neighborhood.
Brownsville uses a council-manager form of government. The Commission sets policy; the City Manager, appointed by the Commission, carries it out. Commissioners vote on what the city should do, and the City Manager figures out how to do it.
Terms, Elections, and Compensation
Every Commission member serves a four-year term. Terms are staggered so the whole body never turns over at once, and no one may serve more than two consecutive terms in the same seat.1City of Brownsville. Charter of the City of Brownsville A former commissioner who sits out a cycle can run again for the same position.
Regular city elections are held on the uniform election date in May, as set by the Texas Election Code.1City of Brownsville. Charter of the City of Brownsville In 2026, that date falls on Saturday, May 2.4Texas Secretary of State. Important Election Dates
Brownsville voters approved a charter amendment in May 2023 setting annual salaries at $40,000 for the Mayor and $25,000 for each of the six commissioners. Before that vote, the positions were either unpaid or carried only nominal pay.
Who Can Run for a Seat
Candidates must meet eligibility rules set by both the Brownsville City Charter and the Texas Election Code. Under the Charter, every candidate must:
- Be a qualified voter of the City of Brownsville, which under Texas law requires U.S. citizenship and voter registration
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have resided within city limits for at least 12 consecutive months before the election
- Not owe back taxes or other debts to the City of Brownsville
Anyone running for one of the four district seats must also have lived within that specific district for at least six months before the election.1City of Brownsville. Charter of the City of Brownsville At-large and mayoral candidates need only the 12-month citywide residency.
The Texas Election Code separately requires candidates for local office to have resided in Texas for at least 12 months and in the territory they seek to represent for at least six months.5Texas Secretary of State. Qualifications for Local Political Subdivisions Because Brownsville is a home rule city, its charter may impose stricter requirements, which is why the 12-month city residency rule controls over the general six-month territory rule.
Attending Meetings and Speaking to Commissioners
The Commission meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 5:00 p.m. in the Commission Chambers on the second floor of City Hall, 1001 E. Elizabeth Street.2City of Brownsville. City Commission Meetings are open to the public.
Under the Texas Open Meetings Act, meeting notices must be posted in a publicly accessible location at least 72 hours before the scheduled meeting time.6State of Texas. Texas Government Code Chapter 551 – Open Meetings The city posts agendas on its official website so residents can review the specific items under consideration ahead of time.
Residents who want to address the commissioners can do so during the public comment portion of each meeting. The city typically requires speakers to sign up before the meeting begins using a sign-up sheet at the venue. Anything said during public comment becomes part of the official meeting record.
When a seat becomes vacant mid-term, the Charter provides a process for filling it. Residents with questions about the specific procedure for their district should review the full Charter on the City of Brownsville website or contact the City Secretary’s office.