Business Consultants
%20(1).webp)
Lifelong Harlingen resident. Proud RGV native. Community advocate. Born in 1985 at Dolly Vinsant Hospital and a graduate of Harlingen South High School (Class of 2003), Oziel Ochoa Jr. grew up on a small family farm where hard work wasn’t just taught, it was lived every day. The son of a Bronze Star Vietnam veteran from Monte Morelos, Mexico, and a 35-year HCISD child nutrition worker, Oziel learned early the values of service, humility, and perseverance. He went on to earn a B.S. in Kinesiology from UTPA (2008) and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Lamar University (2011), later completing the Superintendent Certification Program at UTRGV (2024). A former teacher, coach, principal and current Director of Special Education, Oziel has spent his career serving students, families, and educators across the Rio Grande Valley. His commitment to fairness, opportunity, and integrity continues to guide his vision for South Texas and District 37.
%20(1).webp)
Vision – What We’re Building Together
My vision for District 37 is simple: a community where everybody is represented and has the chance to prosper. Where your zip code, your income, or your background doesn’t determine whether your voice gets heard. We are neighbors. We are family. We are District 37 for All. District 37 should be the best place to raise a family, whether continuing generations of tradition or planting new roots. Our children, grandchildren, and future generations deserve a region where opportunity and representation belong to everyone. Representation should never be for the few, it must be for all.
Our Priorities
Our campaign is about creating opportunity, fairness, and representation for everyone.
The five pillars below, guide our vision and commitment to the people of South Texas:
1. Education —Investing in Our Future
Our future begins in our classrooms.Texas teachers and students are being asked to do more with less. The average starting salary is $57,761, yet 77% of teachers report they do not earn a living wage. As a former teacher, coach, and principal, I know these challenges firsthand.
I will work to:
-
Strengthen TRS so educators can retire comfortably.
-
Keep public funds in public schools and oppose voucher programs.
-
Reduce excessive testing and restore instructional time.
-
Ensure fair, secular curriculum funding across all schools.
-
Increase public school funding for all programs to match inflation in order to support safety and innovation.
When we invest in education, we invest in every child’s future.
2. Public Safety & Mental Health—Protecting Our Communities
A safe community is a thriving community. Our law enforcement officers face new challenges daily, they deserve the tools, training, and support to keep our neighborhoods safe. But true public safety also means addressing mental health by expanding crisis response teams, increasing community access, and providing early family supports.
I will work to:
-
Support law enforcement with proper resources, equipment, and training.
-
Protection for every community member and family.
-
Expand mental-health services through local programs and crisis intervention.
-
Promote prevention and rehabilitation to reduce crime and strengthen families.
Safety and compassion must go hand in hand, that’s how we build stronger, safer communities.
3. Veterans & Honor — Serving Those Who Served Us
Our veterans defended our freedoms, now it’s our duty to defend them. Too many veterans struggle to access timely medical care and benefits. District 37 still lacks a veterans cemetery, forcing families to travel miles to honor their loved ones. That must change. As the proud son of a Bronze Star Veteran, this mission is deeply personal.
I will work to:
-
Expand access to healthcare and local medical services for veterans.
-
Bring a veterans cemetery to the district.
-
Improve coordination between state and federal agencies for benefits and claims.
-
Increase mental-health and transition support for veterans and families.
Our veterans answered the call to serve, now we must answer the call to support them.
4. Economy & Workers'Rights — Building Opportunity for All
The cost of living keeps rising and working families are feeling the strain. Texas still has a minimum wage of $7.25/hour, unchanged since 2009. Meanwhile, rent, groceries, and property taxes continue to climb while wages stay stagnant. A livable wage isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. Every person who works hard deserves stability and dignity.
I will work to:
-
Raise the minimum wage to at least $15/hour or more.
-
Reform property taxes and provide relief for working families.
-
Support renters through fair housing and cost transparency.
-
Promote small-business growth through local incentives and workforce development.
-
Support our Agricultural community.
When we lift up working families, we strengthen our economy and our community.
5. Women’s Rights — Protecting Freedom and Choice
Every woman deserves the right to make personal decisions about her own health, without political interference. As a father to a daughter, I believe those choices belong to women and their doctors, not the government. True respect for life means compassion, education, and access to care.
I will work to:
-
Protect reproductive rights and medical privacy.
-
Expand access to healthcare for women and families.
-
Support maternal-health programs to improve outcomes.
-
Ensure women’s voices are represented in every level of policy.
Freedom, dignity, and equality must always remain at the heart of Texas.
Contact us
Address:
PO Box 530102, Harlingen, TX 78553
Email:
Social:
@OchoaForTexasStateRepresentative37
#OchoaforTX37