Mayor and City Commissioners

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Term Ends: 2027
Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez, native of Pharr, Texas, was elected Mayor of his hometown in 2015, and re-elected in 2019 and 2023. He is currently serving his third term in office representing one of the largest cities in South Texas. Hernandez is a pediatric surgeon, bariatric surgeon, director of surgical services, hospital compliance officer, and business professional by trade.

As Mayor, Dr. Hernandez values the importance of creating partnerships with neighboring communities, private industry, and local school districts. He continues to be a tireless advocate for expanding educational opportunities, promoting jobs and economic development, enhancing international trade and commerce, and improving transportation and infrastructure. He also has helped Pharr emerge as a regional leader in South Texas and at the state, national, and international levels. One of his major accomplishments has been the deployment of a citywide, affordable, high-speed broadband network to ensure students and all Pharr residents can have access to broadband internet at home and advance their educational and career opportunities. Hernandez also seeks out partnerships to connect young people with increased opportunities such as new medical training programs in local school districts.  Other innovative educational partnerships he has been part of have been the South Texas College Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence and a state-of-the-art, Olympic-sized natatorium and sports medicine complex partnership with PSJA ISD and UTRGV along with and most recent signing of the UTRGV Nursing expansion in the City of Pharr.

As a community leader active on many boards and a proponent of regionalism, he serves on the Pharr Economic Development Corporation and served as the inaugural chairman of the Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization. In February 2020, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick appointed Hernandez to the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute (CPRIT) Oversight Committee, overseeing a $3 billion fund for cancer-related research and cancer prevention programs in the state. Hernandez continues to forge partnerships with all industries and at all levels, working together to provide opportunities for Pharr residents and families to thrive.

Hernandez graduated from Pharr-San Juan-Alamo High School in 1986 and received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from The University of Texas-Pan American in 1990. He received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor in 1995, and completed his residency and obtained a Master’s Degree in Medical Science from The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Hernandez returned to the Rio Grande Valley in 2004 and is presently the Medical Director of Surgical Services at Driscoll Children’s Hospital, practicing pediatric surgeon at Rio Grande Regional Hospital and Edinburg Children’s Hospital, and Chief Medical Compliance Officer at Doctor’s Hospital at Renaissance in Edinburg, Texas.

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Term Ends: 2027
Commissioner Michael Pacheco was elected into office in 2023. As Vice President for Coldwell Banker Commercial Rio Grande Valley, he has established himself as a prominent figure in the South Texas real estate market. A lifelong resident of the Rio Grande Valley, Pacheco has garnered a commendable reputation for his professionalism and result-driven approach. He joined the CBC-RGV team after launching his career with Cadence Commercial Real Estate; his expertise encompasses various sectors, including retail, office, industrial, and land brokerage.

Pacheco’s extensive real estate experience and dedication to public service have proven invaluable. Along with his colleagues, he oversees and implements policies and programs that help the City of Pharr grow and promote the quality of life for Pharr families. He is dedicated to improving the quality of life in his community, advocating responsible development, and ensuring that residents’ needs are met.

Commissioner Pacheco currently serves as a member of the Pharr Economic Development Corporation (PEDC) Board of Directors and previously served as a member of the Tierra Del Sol Advisory Board. He is also involved in various charitable organizations, including the Nueva Luz foundation, which promotes mental health awareness and offers mental health services to first responders.

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Term Ends: 2025
Commissioner Roberto “Bobby” Carrillo was first elected to office in 2008 and has served as City Commissioner for 17 years. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Carrillo has been a lifelong resident of Pharr for 60 years. Prior to being elected Commissioner, Carrillo dutifully served on numerous boards including the Pharr International Bridge, the Pharr Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, the City of Pharr Tierra del Sol Golf Course Advisory Board, and the Pharr Police Academy, as well as volunteering in the community in various other capacities since he was 18 years old. He also served as a member of the Boys and Girls Club and American Legion in Pharr, among many other organizations.

Carrillo graduated from Pharr-San-Juan Alamo High School and attended Pan American University. He proudly served his country for four years in the United States Air Force, serving in California and Okinawa, Japan. Carrillo and his family owned and operated Vic’s Auto Rebuilders in Pharr for 28 years.

Carrillo resides in Pharr and has four children and four grandchildren.

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Term Ends: 2025
Commissioner Dr. Ramiro Caballero has served as Pharr City Commissioner, Place 3, since 2017, playing a key role in economic growth, infrastructure, and quality of life for Pharr residents and families. As Secretary of the Pharr Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Board of Directors, he helps drive business development, job creation, and regional investment. He has also supported major initiatives at the Pharr International Bridge to expand trade and strengthen regional connectivity. Caballero serves as a member of the Universal Health Systems Governing Board, where he helps guide healthcare policy and operations for one of the region’s largest healthcare networks. Under his leadership, access to quality medical services has significantly improved in Pharr and surrounding communities, marked by the establishment of Pharr EMS and the introduction of the city’s first freestanding ER.

Caballero is a neonatologist with Pediatrix Medical Group since 2004 and has held leadership roles at Knapp Medical Center, including Chief of Staff and Chief of Pediatrics. A graduate of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo High School, he earned his B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and his M.D. from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

Caballero is married to Mari, and they have raised three sons in Pharr.

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Term Ends: 2025
Commissioner Daniel Chavez has served as Pharr City Commissioner since 2017. Chavez is Principal at EDCON, PLLC. In his professional career, Chavez previously worked as an Electrical Designer and Assistant Project Manager for DBR Engineering, and Senior Project Manager for HM3 Engineering. Chavez’s expertise includes a variety of project types including educational, performing arts, commercial, medical, financial, airports, wastewater treatment plants, pump stations, fire stations, and industrial spaces. His engineering design work includes mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems design, fire alarm design, site surveys, lighting, power distribution, emergency stand-by power systems, telephone, data, and other special systems. Chavez has extensive knowledge in cost analysis, project cost management and master planning, instrumental to overseeing projects and policies for the City of Pharr programs as Commissioner. Chavez also served as Election Judge for the City of Pharr in 2010.

Chavez’s professional affiliations include the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE), the Illuminating Engineering Society (ISE), and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

Chavez received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics and Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas-Pan American.

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Term Ends: 2027
Commissioner Ricardo Medina has served as Pharr City Commissioner, Place 5 since 2015. He previously served in various capacities on the Pharr City Commission, including as Mayor from 1988-2002 and as Commissioner from 1990-1994 and 2004-2008.  As Commissioner, Medina’s civic expertise helps implement Pharr’s fiscally conservative and business-oriented agenda and enhance the quality of life for Pharr residents and families. Medina previously served as member of the Pharr International Bridge Board, the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council, the former Hidalgo County Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the Pharr Rotary Club. He currently serves as Chair of the City of Pharr Tierra del Sol Golf Course Advisory Board and as member of the Pharr Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors.

Medina retired from a professional career in the medical field, having worked as a Laboratory and Scheduling Director at Knapp Medical Center. He graduated from Pharr-San Juan-Alamo High School and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology and Chemistry from Pan American University and a Bachelor of Medical Technology from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston School of Allied Health Science.

Medina is married to Minerva. They reside in Pharr and have four children and seven grandchildren.

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Term Ends: 2027
Commissioner Itza Flores was elected into office as Commissioner Place 6 in 2019. A dedicated public servant and lifelong resident of Pharr, Flores is deeply committed to the well-being and progress of the City of Pharr, aligning her work with the city’s commitment to providing exceptional municipal services, including high-quality infrastructure, public safety, and community programs. With a strong foundation built on family values, she has been happily married for 28 years and is a proud mother of four.

Flores brings a wealth of experience to her role, having served the community for over 34 years as an educator. Currently, she serves as a Special Education Director in a local school district, where she is responsible for fostering leadership, ensuring the safety of students with disabilities, and managing fiscal and operational responsibilities. Additionally, she shares her expertise with aspiring educators as a professor at UTRGV, bridging theory with real-world practice.

Beyond her work in education, Commissioner Flores is a passionate advocate for special education on a statewide level. As a member of the House of Delegates for the Texas Council of Administrators of Special Education (TCASE), she actively shapes policy and drives positive changes for students and educators across Texas. She also contributes to the planning of TCASE conferences, ensuring continued professional development for special education professionals.

For the past six years, Commissioner Flores has had the privilege of serving the City of Pharr as a City Commissioner, a role she considers one of the most rewarding experiences of her life. Flores understands the importance of values of professionalism, respect, integrity, discipline, and ethics as guiding principles for city employees, building trust with the community, and promoting a positive culture within the city. She is dedicated to fostering a thriving and inclusive city for all its residents.