Martin Sarkis, Candidate for City Commissioner, Position 3

Martin Sarkis

49 year old Brownsville businessman Martin Sarkis has declared for the office of City Commissioner, Place 3, which is currently filled by Melissa Zamora, who is not running again for the position.

Sarkis studied architecture at the Tecnologico de Matamoros and is responsible for over 150 buildings, commercial and residential in Brownsville and a number in Matamoros.  He also owns Saga State Inspection at 1934 E. 13th St. in Brownsville.

Sarquis states that while a commissioner has only one vote, he can question any proposal to see if it is viable.  He expects citizen involvement as well:  "We need groups who believe strongly in an issue to come the the City Commission and push for it.  A commissioner can't do it by himself."  He also supports a lifting of the broadcast ban on public comments "as long as the comments are respectful of the mayor and city commission."

As an architect, Sarkis has a particular fondness for Brownsville's downtown which he believes should be a strong magnet for tourism.  He wants to look into the use of areas under freeway overpasses to park as many as 150 cars, then using a trolley shuttle to tour historic and architecturally significant areas of downtown.  A knowledgeable tour guide or historian could give locals and tourists alike some perspective of the history of the city, he feels.  Sarkis states that owners of downtown buildings that have fallen into disrepair need to be served warning that unless they repair their buildings the city will do it at their expense.

Sarkis also wants the city to actually develop a new ethics code without delay and make necessary changes to the city charter to bring it current with twenty-first century reality.