Valley Interfaith hears from county judge candidates
Valley Interfaith held an accountability session in Mercedes where county judge candidates discussed the group's agenda, including concerns about data center transparency, power reliability, noise, water use and local jobs. The article does not identify a specific data center project or company.
Valley Interfaith hosted its 2026 Accountability Session at the Knights of Columbus Hall Events Center in Mercedes, bringing together Cameron County Judge candidate Mauro Garza and Willacy County Judge candidates Aurelio “Keter” Guerra and Paul Anders. Cameron County candidate Estevan Guerra did not attend, and the organization recorded him as opposing its agenda.
The group's agenda covers food assistance, health care, flood prevention, safe water, immigration and workforce development. It also criticizes data centers for potential noise pollution, power-outage risks and high water consumption, while questioning whether they create enough permanent, high-paying jobs for local residents. No specific data center development or company is identified.