WACO, TX — Six elected members sit on the Waco City Council and make important decisions that impact the Waco community.
For years, only one of those members is Hispanic. Currently, it's Hector Sabido, who represents District 2.
Born and raised in Waco, Sabido grew up surrounded with Hispanic culture.
"Being a first generation American with my parents coming over from Mexico, Spanish was the first language that I learned and it's still very near and dear to me," he said.
Sabido quickly realized that as a first generation, he could be a voice for hundreds of Hispanic families like his own.
"We are from so many different places around the world and our language is different and our culture is different, but I think it is an honor to just represent the community as a whole," he said.
In May 2019, he was sworn into the city council representing District 2. Mayor Kyle Deaver says Sabido excels in addressing the needs of the Hispanic community throughout Waco.
"He loves Waco and he knows his district and the needs of his district extremely well. I don't think you could ask for a better representative," said Mayor Deaver.
"He knows there is a great need, and he wants to follow it through not only for this Hispanic community but also for everyone. He wants everyone to have an opportunity and I am very proud of him," said Ilda Sabido, Hector's wife.
Sabido hopes to enrich his children with the same culture he and his wife were raised with. He also remains positive that more Hispanic leaders will emerge throughout the community and join him.
"As our demographic begins to grow in Central Texas among the Hispanic community, my hope and goal is that more Hispanics will join me on council, that more Hispanics will join in on the elected official side, we need that very much," he said.
Until then, he will proudly be a voice in his hometown for as long as he can.
