Mayor· 2023-2027
John Cowen Jr.
Brownsville
About
Mayor John Cowen Jr.'s platform emphasizes regional development, focusing on key priorities like space commerce and workforce development. He is also committed to enhancing the city's aesthetics and infrastructure, as evidenced by initiatives like the B.R.I.G.H.T. Initiative and efforts to expand broadband access.
Campaign promises (3)
- developmentFocus on space commerce and workforce development as key regional priorities.
- developmentBeautify and further enhance Brownsville through the B.R.I.G.H.T. Initiative.
- infrastructureExpand citywide broadband access.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 15
- Total speaking time
- 30:32
- Avg per meeting
- 2:02
- Segments
- 460
Want every word Cowen has said?
The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Cowen said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.
Top issues during term (4)(Budget)
Historic Property Tax Exemptions
The city anticipates approximately $133,000 in foregone property tax revenue for 2026 from historic exemptions.
Public Transit Expansion
Involves federal and state grant funds and capital improvement allocations.
budget approval
Your local tax dollars are being locked in for the next year to fund city operations, safety, and community growth.
Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Budget and Property Tax Rate
Impacts property assessment rates and district operating revenues.
Moved or seconded (7)
Motions Jr. personally put forward or seconded. Attribution comes from the minutes; where the minutes name somebody we cannot match to the roster we leave it out rather than guess, so this is a floor, not a total.
- movedpassed2026-05-01
upon duly made motion by Mayor John F. Cowen, Committee Member, and seconded by Susan Ruvalcaba, Committee Member, the meeting adjourned at 2:02 p.m.
- movedpassed2026-01-09
Consideration of approval of Minutes from the Audit and Oversight Committee Regular meeting held on December 05, 2025
Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion
- secondedpassed2026-01-09
Executive Session convened at 12:52 pm.
- secondedpassed2025-11-07
adjourned at 1:48 p.m.
- secondedpassed2025-10-03
the minutes for September 05, 2025, Regular Meeting were approved.
- secondedpassed2025-10-03
proceed as discussed
- secondedpassed2025-09-05
Election of Vice Chair
Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion
Decisions during term (16)
Recorded while Jr. was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Consideration and ACTION to authorize a contract with CivicPlus, LLC in the amount of $345,556.93, under TIPS Contract #220105, for a five-year term, for Agenda and Meeting Management, CivicPlus Media, and DocAccess services as budget.
Consideration and ACTION to approve a renewal of the Interlocal Agreement to continue public transportation to service-limited areas in Cameron County between the City of Brownsville and Cameron County to contribute $89,538.00, as budgeted.
Consideration and ACTION to approve a contract with SHI Government Solutions, Inc. for the purchase of Service Management System licenses. The total contract value will not exceed $130,903.10, as budgeted.
Consideration and ACTION to renew an annual license contract with Tyler Technologies, Inc. for the New World (Logos) Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system in the amount of $186,007.47, as budgeted.
Consideration and ACTION to approve a cooperative purchase from SHI Government Solutions, Inc. for CrowdStrike Cyber Defense Software in the amount of $331,074.28, as budgeted. (Information Technology Department)
Consideration and ACTION to approve Tokio Marine HCC for Stop Loss Services for the City of Brownsville for FY 2027, in the amount not to exceed $1,059,730, as budgeted. (Organizational Development and Human Resources)
Adoption of FY 2027 Annual Budget (Ordinance No. 2026-1820)
Ratification of FY 2027 Budget Revenue Increase (Ordinance No. 2026-1821)
Consideration and ACTION to Authorize a Contract with RM Walsdorf Inc. for the Abilene Trail Storm Sewer Improvements Project (246-26-EPW-IFB), in the amount not to exceed $104,911.70, as budgeted. (Engineering and Public Works Department)
Consideration and ACTION to authorize a Professional Services Agreement with Oscar Alvarado for the Public Art Monument at the Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport, in an amount not to exceed $250,000, as budgeted. (Airport…
Consideration and ACTION to approve a Contract with ARGIO Roofing & Construction, LLC in the amount of $285,131.87 for Contract No. 346-26-ISD-CP, for repairs to the Market Square Dome, as budgeted. (Internal Services Department)
Consideration and ACTION to award contract number 141-26-BMT-IFB to 2GS LLC dba Earthworks Enterprise in the amount of $1,539,579 for the Southmost Nature Trail Phase III, as budgeted. (Multimodal Transportation)
Approval of FY 2026 End-of-Year Budget Amendment
Approval of BCIC FY 2027 Budget
Approval of GBEDC FY 2027 Budget
Adoption of FY 2027 Annual Budget
Voting record (4)(Budget)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.