Why Corpus Christi City Council Dropped Funding from Chamber of Commerce

Tensions Over Chamber of Commerce and Desalination Campaign

The City Council of Corpus Christi has decided not to defund the United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce, despite heated discussions about the nonprofit’s involvement in a desalination campaign. The council had previously considered cutting nearly all funding from the chamber, including direct financial support, in-kind services, or uncompensated staff time. Exceptions would have included groups like the South Texas Military Task Force and the Conquer the Coast cycling event.

If approved, this move would have stopped city taxpayer money from being used for sponsorships, ticket purchases at chamber events, or subsidies for the chamber’s use of city facilities. While no official action was taken, the council publicly criticized the chamber’s CEO and president, Al Arreola Jr., during an August 12 meeting. This criticism came partly due to a text-based campaign that encouraged residents to call two council members—Kaylynn Paxson and Eric Cantu—and urge them to support the Inner Harbor desalination plant.

The texts specifically targeted residents in Districts 3 and 4, which are represented by Paxson and Cantu. Several council members expressed concern over the chamber's approach, stating that while they value the chamber’s input, the method used was inappropriate. Cantu and Paxson are both first-time council members, while the other seven have prior experience in elected positions.

City Councilwoman Carolyn Vaughn, who led the discussion on the issue, described the campaign as “bullying” the two new members. She emphasized that the chamber should have followed a more respectful approach, noting that the campaign was divisive rather than united.

Arreola contested the idea that the campaign crossed into lobbying territory. He explained that the financial backing for the text campaign came from “My Town, Our Future,” a fund he described as dedicated to promoting quality of life and economic opportunities in the Coastal Bend. He argued that as a nonprofit, the chamber has the right to engage in issue advocacy using its own funds.

Despite this, Arreola acknowledged that the desalination project has become highly polarizing. “This has gotten very divisive, very political on all sides,” he said, adding that the chamber apologized for the situation.

Text Messages and Their Impact

The text messages were sent shortly before a planned vote on continuing the design of the Inner Harbor desalination plant. That decision was postponed for about a month. A screenshot shared by Cantu showed a message encouraging residents to call him and support the project. The message highlighted the importance of the vote for Corpus Christi’s water future and urged recipients to contact Cantu directly.

Cantu stated that the text campaign likely resulted in only a few calls and called it a waste of money. Paxson, who was also targeted, expressed sadness over what she saw as the chamber’s attempt to divide the community. She emphasized the need for collaboration between the chamber and the council.

My Town, Our Future and Advocacy Tactics

The text messages were attributed to the chamber and the “My Town, Our Future” initiative. On the chamber’s website, the group is described as a pro-growth coalition focused on economic prosperity in the Coastal Bend. It claims to be a public awareness campaign with a pro-business, pro-jobs, and pro-growth message, avoiding any specific candidate or ballot initiative.

Arreola explained that using outbound text messages is a common tactic among advocacy groups. He mentioned that the chamber used a trusted service with access to public information to send the automated messages. However, he did not provide details on how many texts were sent or the cost of the campaign.

Support for the Chamber

While some council members criticized the chamber’s approach, others praised its contributions. City Councilman Roland Barrera highlighted the chamber’s role in facilitating trips to Austin to bring local priorities to lawmakers. He also commended the chamber for encouraging public engagement with council members.

City Councilman Mark Scott, another chamber member, supported the organization’s advocacy efforts but suggested that views should be shared with the entire council. He emphasized the importance of reaching all members rather than targeting specific individuals.

In an email, Arreola expressed appreciation for the council’s decision not to take action. He reiterated the chamber’s mission to advocate for its members and work collaboratively with city officials to find effective water solutions.

Ongoing Challenges

The future of Corpus Christi’s desalination project remains uncertain. The city continues to face challenges related to drought and water supply. Recent discussions have also touched on potential fees for the recycled water program.

The debate over the chamber’s role highlights the complex relationship between local government and advocacy groups. As the city navigates these issues, the need for collaboration and transparency remains critical.