James Matz

Harlingen | Poltician and Businessman

Mr. Matz served in the US Foreign Service in Mexico, Bolivia and Indonesia, and worked for a consulting engineering firm in South Africa, before returning to Harlingen. In Harlingen, he promoted a range of conservation efforts in his position as Cameron County commissioner, as member on Harlingen’s Metropolitan Planning Commission, through service within the US Government Advisory Committee for the NAFTA Commission on Environmental Cooperation, via membership on the Rio Grande Water Board, and by his leadership of the Valley Proud Environmental Council. He was particularly noted for his ability in the Council to organize and inspire large numbers of citizens to get involved in community improvement, through recycling, beach clean-ups, tree planting, and other projects.