Gil Hernandez

Economy
Hernandez has made the city's debt levels a signature issue, noting that annual taxpayer-supported debt payments have climbed from about $55 million to roughly $70 million and telling KRIS 6 News that "the debt payment is now 21% of the General Fund revenues." He voted against a 10-percent pay raise for the city manager, calling it out of step with comparable cities, and pairs that fiscal caution with support for a new industrial district agreement and continued backing for the Naval Air Station and Army Depot as major local employers.

Infrastructure
On water, Hernandez backs building a desalination plant at Harbor Island sized to eventually expand past 100 million gallons a day, alongside brackish-groundwater treatment and wastewater-reuse projects, paired with cost-sharing partnerships with the Port of Corpus Christi and state agencies. He also supports a Rapid Pavement Program for faster residential street repairs and park-and-ride style parking to ease congestion around downtown events.

Security
His public-safety positions include favoring rescue-organization partnerships over euthanasia for stray-animal control, pushing for clearer police communication after critical incidents, and supporting community-policing efforts such as National Night Out.