| Candidate | Votes | |
| John R. Luis | 9,326 | 39.97% |
| Gil Hernandez | 14,005 | 60.03% |
Vote Centers Reported: 84/84
Here are candidates running for Corpus Christi City Council District 5 in this year's election. They are listed by the official ballot order that was determined by random draw. Empty bios can and will be filled when the answers to our questionnaires are sent back to us.
JOHN R. LUIS
What is your age?
54 years old
What is your current or past occupation?
Retired from the Corpus Christi Fire Dept. 2019, after 27 years of serving our community.
What relevant experience can you bring to the office?
Worked as a fire inspector, worked with developers in assuring fire-protection plans were approved. I am a team player, and that is what it takes to get the city moving in the right direction for all citizens in District 5.
How have your life experiences prepared you for this position?
I'm a lifelong resident of Corpus Christi. I have devoted my life as a firefighter for 27 years, up until my retirement in 2019. My strong commitment to family and community. I have volunteered for the school district and numerous organizations.
What problems would you address on your first day in office?
The feeling of uncertainty by our citizens during the pandemic continues, and will continue, until we are able to get to a new normal. I do see Jobs bouncing back, and we do need to work on health care, affordable housing and schools. The way we will do this is working as a team with the other council.
What do you see as long-term issues which need to be addressed throughout your time in office?
1. Attracting new businesses to Corpus Christi.
2. Infrastructure.
3. Health and safety of the citizens of Corpus Christi.
What is the City of Corpus Christi doing well right now that needs to be expanded further?
The city manager has been very upfront and transparent. The city has been upfront in setting guidelines to help bring numbers down during the pandemic. I am proud of the way they have handled hurricanes and other natural disasters that have come our way. I want to ensure the city creates a business climate to attract jobs.
GIL HERNANDEZ (INCUMBENT)
What is your age?
51
What is your current or past occupation?
I'm currently a business consultant in the food & beverage industry. Previously, I was with Coca-Cola North America (18 years).
What relevant experience can you bring to the office?
I have leadership background in both government and business over the last 30 years that more than qualifies me for this position.
How have your life experiences prepared you for this position?
I have experience in both government and private sectors which gives me insight into both. I’m also well traveled with international experience in Asia and the Middle East.
What problems would you address on your first day in office?
I have experience in both government and private sectors, which gives me insight into both. I’m also well-traveled with international experience in Asia and the Middle East.
What do you see as long-term issues which need to be addressed throughout your time in office?
There are several long-term issues in the city. We have challenges with the condition of our streets, water and wastewater infrastructure, and stormwater where the preventive maintenance and life-cycle asset management has been neglected.
What is local government doing well right now that needs to be expanded further?
We've improved in several areas including Development Service and Street Maintenance. We’re actually repaving streets with city crews again, which hasn’t happened in several years. However, we still have a long way to go with the poor condition of our streets. We also need to ensure we are planning for our future mobility needs.
