By Sherry Koonce
The News staff writer
Change is needed in Port Arthur and Oscar Ortiz is just the man for the job.
The three-time mayor announced Monday his candidacy to lead the city back toward a time when Port Arthur was the envy of others, not the butt of jokes as it has become since he was mayor.
Ortiz cited high unemployment rates, few local subcontractors working and suppliers not doing business associated with Motiva’s $8 billion expansion project as problems the city needs to address.
“Motiva has an obligation with the city to hire locally and to use local businesses as subcontractors,” Ortiz said.
When he left office, Ortiz said the city’s unemployment rate was much lower than the current 16 percent without jobs.
Port Arthur’s unemployment rate was 4 percent and the city’s reserve funds were 18 million when he left office, Ortiz said.
“We are going backwards faster than you can possibly imagine,” he said.
The city has not developed as it should.
“A hamburger place on 365 and Cheddar’s on 69 are is not the kind of development that families can live off of. Now, I like fast food, and you can tell it by looking at me, but families cannot support their families on a fast food salary,” he said.
Ortiz said city leadership has been almost nonexistent. The current City Council has been remiss in setting the city’s agenda, leaving the city manager to doing everything. In the process, the city is hurting its relationship with minorities, he said.
“We need to get back to a time when everybody was happy, working and making money. We need to get back to a time when Jefferson County had respect for the city of Port Arthur.
Ortiz said the city needed change.
“I can make a difference. I am not afraid to do what has to be done to make Port Arthur a better city,” Ortiz said.
With Ortiz’s announcement, the field of those announcing plans to run is officially two. Current Mayor Deloris “Bobbie” Prince has indicated plans to run again. District 1 Councilman Jack Chatman Jr., has also indicated that he is thinking about running for the position.
skoonce@panews.com
