Councilman Elias Diaz Delivers Emotional Plea Against Electing Monica Cruz as Mayor
EAGLE PASS, Texas — On the eve of the highly anticipated mayoral runoff election, Eagle Pass City Councilman Elias Diaz delivered a nearly 45-minute livestream to express his full-throated opposition to mayoral candidate and former Councilwoman Monica Cruz. The address was deeply personal, weaving together political frustrations, public health failures, and concerns about Cruz’s leadership style.
“I know it’s not customary for people in elected office to hold such strong positions about future candidates,” Diaz acknowledged. “But I feel a deep sense of responsibility to speak.”
A Public Health Vision Blocked
Diaz focused a significant portion of his speech on what he called one of the most important efforts of his political career—the establishment of a city-led public health department. The plan, initiated during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, aimed to create a coalition between the City of Eagle Pass, Maverick County, and the Maverick County Hospital District.
Under the plan, each entity would contribute $100,000 and resources like space and personnel to build a local health department. Diaz also coordinated with interns from the University of Texas and Baylor University and secured support from the Texas Department of State Health Services. However, he says Councilwoman Monica Cruz abruptly halted the project.
“She said it was moving too fast,” Diaz recalled. “This was something I’d been talking about for over a year. It was in the budget. We had professional backing and community support.”
According to Diaz, Cruz not only opposed the project but launched public accusations against him, alleging ethical violations and misappropriation of funds—claims he adamantly denies.
“She weaponized the media,” he said. “Instead of working to improve the plan, she attacked me personally and stalled one of the most promising initiatives for our community.”
Concerns Over Cruz’s Judgment and Leadership
Throughout the livestream, Diaz emphasized his support for mayoral candidate Aaron Valdez, citing Valdez’s ability to unify leaders across political and personal lines. He noted that Valdez’s endorsements include six former mayors, his former runoff opponent Jesus Casas, and multiple current city officials.
“Not everyone in that group agreed in the past,” Diaz said. “But they’re united now because of Aaron’s leadership and vision.”
In sharp contrast, Diaz described Cruz as unwilling to compromise or collaborate. “She cannot get on board. She cannot have a constructive conversation,” he said. “She is clouded by conflict and cannot separate disagreement from duty.”
He also claimed that Cruz’s resistance to the public health department stemmed in part from a belief that any success of the program would politically benefit Diaz or the public Maverick County Hospital District over the private sector.
“She argued that people might become patients of the Hospital District out of gratitude,” Diaz said. “That’s not a conflict of interest—that’s how public health works. We tax for those services.”
READ MORE: Recount Confirms Aaron Valdez as Front-Runner in Eagle Pass Mayoral Race Ahead of Runoff
Defending His Record and Addressing Criticism
Diaz acknowledged that his public support for Valdez would likely result in backlash, including renewed accusations of corruption and nepotism. He preemptively defended himself against those criticisms, explaining that many of the people hired through his grant-funded programs started as unpaid volunteers or interns.
“All of my programs started with no funding,” he explained. “The people who worked on them in the beginning—sometimes for months without pay—are the ones who earned those positions.”
Diaz also claimed the initial investment for the health department he envisioned had already brought in $7.8 million in additional funding through grant expansion.
A Clear and Final Message
In the final minutes of his address, Diaz warned the community to consider Cruz’s history carefully before voting.
“She’s shown us who she is,” he said. “She cannot work with others, cannot handle conflict, and sees every disagreement as a personal attack. That’s not the kind of leader Eagle Pass needs.”
He added that despite the toll of political attacks, he remains committed to advocating for public health and community development until the end of his term.
“I didn’t get into politics to fight people,” Diaz concluded. “I did it to create. To build. To innovate. And until someone else is ready to take that fight, I’ll keep doing it.”
About The Author
Is it possible that Councilman Diaz is abstaining because he is concerned that it may cause others to judge the Councilman and claim that there is a preference due to his partner?
This could be turned into a battleground against the councilman, something he may not want or need.
Another question: are his partner’s contracts in any way, shape, or form entangled in Mr. Dias’ position in the Council, and do you want that to happen?
I believe he is prudent in his abstinence.