Mom of slain Robb Elementary scholar working for Uvalde mayor: ‘I’ll honor your life with motion’

The mom of a 10-year-old lady who was gunned down at Robb Elementary Faculty in Texas final yr is working to be Uvalde mayor to “honor” her late daughter’s life “with motion.”

Kimberly Mata-Rubio, 34, launched her marketing campaign to be the town’s first feminine mayor in a heart-wrenching tweet Thursday addressed to her late daughter, Alexandria “Lexi” Rubio.

“I grieve for the lady you’d have grow to be and all of the distinction you’d have made on this world. I grieve for the lady I used to be once you had been nonetheless right here,” Mata-Rubio wrote.

“However, one a part of me nonetheless exist, I’m nonetheless your mother. I’ll honor your life with motion. That is solely the start💛.”

In an interview with the Uvalde Leader-News, the place she works, the mom of 5 mentioned the small city of a bit over 15,000 folks has grow to be “stagnant” within the years main as much as final yr’s college capturing.

“It might be simple to run from the problems that plague our city, however I’ve determined to stay in Uvalde and be a part of the change that’s lengthy overdue,” she instructed the outlet.

“Our management grew to become snug, which led to the occasions that unfolded on Might 24, 2022. The aftermath has added to the trauma of a grieving and fractured neighborhood. It’s my hope to bridge the hole as a result of solely once we come collectively can we evolve to one thing better.”

Mata-Rubio and former mayor Cody Smith are to date the one candidates within the particular election to switch Mayor Don McLaughlin, who’s stepping right down to run for a seat within the Texas Home, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

Lexi Rubio was killed alongside 18 of her classmates and two lecturers on Might 24, 2022, when a teenage gunman entered Robb Elementary armed with a legally bought assault rifle. 

Just some hours earlier than her loss of life, the sporty, studious fourth grader was honored for incomes all A’s and good citizenship at a college ceremony.

Since her daughter’s loss of life, Mata-Rubio has been on the forefront of the coalition of grieving dad and mom advocating for gun reform on a state and federal stage.

“The typical citizen doesn’t want entry to some of these weapons. They’re meant to destroy lives and that’s what they’ve been doing,” she told CNN in May.

In her dialogue with the Chief-Information, Mata-Rubio cited her expertise with authorities within the yr after her daughter’s loss of life as a driving consider her mayoral marketing campaign.

“I do know she may be this greater particular person. In the future, she’ll get it, and the entire world will see. After which they’ll additionally keep in mind that that’s Lexi’s mother.” she mentioned.

“Subjects I really feel must be addressed embrace the danger to our motorists throughout high-speed chases in metropolis limits, bettering communication between the town and different entities together with the county and faculty district, preserving Uvalde’s wealthy historical past and tradition, and helping with the prosperity of locally-owned companies.”

Mata-Rubio’s husband, Felix, was a sheriff’s deputy final yr. He was off-duty on the day of the Robb Elementary capturing, however responded to the scene when officers known as for reinforcements, CNN reported.

The legislation enforcement response to the capturing has been criticized after it was revealed 400 armed officers hesitated outside the classroom for over an hour earlier than confronting the gunman, the American-Statesman added.

Simply at some point after the bloodbath, Uvalde faculties’ former high cop Pedro “Pete” Arredondo admitted that he knowingly abandoned the children and teachers with the shooter.

The Justice Division remains to be reviewing over 13,000 items of proof tied to the botched response, CNN said.

“My understanding is this primary group of officers that are available, they’re shot at, they retreat, they usually by no means return in. They let kids die in that classroom. And I can’t even clarify to you what they’ve taken from me,” Mata-Rubio instructed the outlet in Might.

Mata-Rubio is a lifelong Uvalde resident and presently works in promoting for Chief-Information after an award-winning stint as a employees author and assistant editor, the native paper mentioned.

She graduated in December with a level in public historical past from St. Mary’s College.

“I wish to symbolize the underserved on this neighborhood, whose voices matter however have lengthy been unheard,” she instructed the Chief-Information this week.

“I would like residents to see themselves in me and really feel relaxed sharing their grievances.”

If elected, Mata-Rubio can be the primary girl and third Hispanic mayor of Uvalde.

She would even be solely the fifth girl to sit down on the town council.

“I wish to work with metropolis residents for the betterment of our metropolis,” she continued.

“I’d be glad about your vote through the early voting interval set Oct. 23 by Nov. 3, or on election day, Nov. 7. The deadline to register to vote within the November election is Oct. 10.”

With Publish wires