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Public Information Office, City Hall, 1110 Houston St., Laredo, TX 78040

Xochitl M. Garcia o: 956.791.7461 m: 956.337.3639 e: lmora@ci.laredo.tx.us

www.cityoflaredo.com

City of Laredo Advisory Board Member

Meets President Obama, Stresses Laredo as

Ground Zero for Border Issues

(Laredo, TX – Nov 4, 2011) Last week, Marcus Holliman, City of Laredo District IV Council Member Juan Narvaez appointee to the Economic Development Board, attended a fundraiser for President Barrack Obama, hosted by Eva Longoria at the home of Antonio Banderas and Melanie Grifith in Los Angeles. Aside from rubbing shouders with Hollywood’s stars, including George Lopez and Don Johnson, and others, including U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and Democratic National Committee Vice-Chair Linda Chavez-Thompson,Holliman was afforded one-on-one private time with the Commander-in-Chief, in which he presented the president with gifts on behalf of the City of Laredo, as well as invited him to come to Laredo so he could truly understand border issues.

“Because of the level of sponsorship, I was able to have about three minutes alone with President Obama,” said Holliman. “During that time, I told him that it was important that he down to Laredo, Texas if he really wanted to understand the border , especially regarding security, trade and immigration, since Laredo, as the nation’s largest inland port, was truly ground zero for these issues.”

“I was impressed by how engaged he was, and how he really seemed to take in what I was being said, and directed his staff to look into his schedule for opportunities to make that a possibility.”

Holliman went in Cm. Narvaez’s stead, after a personal invitation from Eva Longoria to the local council member. Cm. Narvaez, who was unable to attend due to a personal commitment, asked to send his Economic Development Board appointee, Holliman, with the border issue message, invitation directive and bearing gifts.

“I am going to work with President Obama’s network in San Antonio; especially, with Eva, to make sure we bring the president down to Laredo, in order for him to truly understand the border and our issues.”

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