POLITICS: Laredo City Council candidates clash over local corruption, technology at TAMIU debate
Voters take close look at Districts 2, 3, 6 contenders
By Cynthia Torres
Assistant Editor
Published Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026
Following each 40-minute debate, an audience at Texas A&M International University asked questions to learn more about candidates for the Laredo City Council Districts 2, 3 and 6. The Oct. 6 “Laredo Decides” City Council debate was hosted by TAMIU’s Student Government Association’s Political Action Committee in the Student Center Ballroom.
The debaters included District 2 opponents Ricardo Rangel Jr. and Daisy Alejandra Campos; District 3 opponents Melissa R. Cigarroa and Michelle Marie Winterroth; and District 6 opponents Dr. David Tyler King and Ubaldo Granados Jr.
TAMIU’s SGA hosts a City Council Debate Night for City Council Districts 2, 3 and 6 on Oct. 6, 2026, in the Student Center Ballroom.
“Laredo is a very corrupt city, and I’ve seen it firsthand,” Winterroth said. “My order is to ensure there is no corruption and the right people get the right spots and that there is no favoritism in the work field.”
However, District 3 incumbent Cigarroa said, “I have not seen it; these are unsupported accusations that have no basis in evidence, and this is not the experience I have had. They have the degrees and certifications to uphold their jobs,” regarding the corruption allegations.
Through its Facebook account on Sept. 18, SGA PAC announced the debate, promising attendees an exciting evening to help them become informed voters.
“My committee and I wanted for our college peers to show up to the polls with the right amount of confidence and information to make an informed decision,” debate moderator Emily Esparza said.
The hopes of this debate night were to get more students involved in local politics. Despite that, there was little student turnout. The organization believes student involvement in local politics is important because they can influence policies that affect their daily lives.
“Generally, no, I don’t think students are involved in local politics,” politically active student Amador Flores III said. “I’m often wary of too many students or people my age getting involved in politics because it requires a lot of knowledge and nuance, but when it comes to the topic of Flock [cameras], there aren’t enough people involved.”
This debate night provided TAMIU students an opportunity to immerse themselves in Laredo politics. Events like these allow students easy access to asking questions, getting involved and reflecting on community issues.
