Community Activist Elvia Rios Enters JP Race

McALLEN, Texas:  Longtime public servant and community activist Elvia Rios, 64, announced Thursday that she officially filed for Justice of the Peace Precinct 2, Place 2 seat in Hidalgo County in the March 2014 election by appointing Lupe Silva (Aboud) her campaign treasurer. Rios, who was born and raised in McAllen, said she plans to be a proactive judge who works with educators, community groups, and law enforcement to address situations that lead to the cases heard in court.

“My strong sense of fairness and integrity will guide both my campaign and judicial decisions,” Rios said.  "I welcome the community's input and plan to take advantage of every opportunity to go out and meet the citizens of Precinct 2 Place 2. The time is right for me to give back to my community.”

Rios, pictured here, said she views the Justice of the Peace court as "the people’s court.” The Justice of the Peace Precinct 2, Place 2 covers McAllen, Pharr, San Juan, Alamo, and the City of Hidalgo. JP’s perform the functions of a magistrate and conduct inquests. A justice of the peace presides over truancy cases, traffic violations, hears civil suits under $10,000, issues arrest warrants, and performs marriages.

For the past 16 years, Rios has been a self-employed consultant providing governmental agencies, higher education institutions, and non-profits services in resource development and management. Rios has a proven track record of securing grant funding totaling millions for Valley projects and programs. In addition, Hidalgo County judges have appointed Rios to make recommendations to the courts on child custody cases and adoptions.

Prior to consulting, Rios worked for Texas Rural Legal Aide, for the late State Senator Carlos F. Truan, and State Representative Rene Oliviera. Her legislative work includes the creation of South Texas Community College, the Regional Academic Health Center, and legislative appropriations for South Texas colleges and universities.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Houston, and a Masters in Public Health degree from the UTHSC- Houston. She also is a graduate of the Executive Program at Harvard University's JFK School of Government in Boston, MA, and the Leadership Development Program at the Center for Creative Leadership in Colorado Springs, CO. Rios is a W.K. Kellogg Foundation Fellow in Health Leadership, and a Fellow of the National Hispana Leadership Institute in Washington, D.C.

Rios is the mother of Alejandro J. Rios Tovar, MD, 28, who is in his third year of a General Surgery residency at the University Medical Center in El Paso.  Dr. Rios Tovar plans to return to McAllen upon completion of the residency to serve the people of the Rio Grande Valley.