Flores’s connection to South Padre Island began at a young age. In 1998, his parents moved the family from San Diego, California, to Texas and first brought them to the Island. Courtesy image. Bgd for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
Business owner and civic leader Esteban Flores announced his candidacy for South Padre Island City Council, Place 2. He brings a record in real estate development, quality of life initiatives, and economic impact, plus service on state and national boards that elevate Texas communities.
Flores’s connection to South Padre Island began at a young age. In 1998, his parents moved the family from San Diego, California, to Texas and first brought them to the Island. The family later settled in McAllen. In 2016, Flores purchased vacation and investment properties on the Island. During the pandemic, he and his late wife, Liza Marie, sheltered in place on South Padre Island, and he came to treasure everyday island life. They celebrated her thirty-third and final birthday on the Island. After she passed from cancer, he chose to make South Padre Island his home. The beach became the place where he and his daughter healed. As a widower and a single father to his six-year-old daughter, Katalina Marie, he wants every family to feel safe, welcome, and proud to call the Island home.
Flores’s agenda is clear: build better infrastructure with smart, sustainable development, lower property taxes through disciplined and transparent budgeting, strengthen emergency readiness with real healthcare access on the Island, and grow a pro-small business climate with clear and fair rules. He will protect property owners and neighborhood safety while stewarding wildlife, dunes, and native habitats so growth preserves what makes South Padre Island special.
“I am running to serve every resident and small business on South Padre Island,” said Flores. “Together we can support local entrepreneurs, invest in resilient infrastructure, protect private property rights, and be fully transparent about results. The Island is a special place with memories for all of us, and it must be protected for future generations. I am a problem solver and a quick learner, ready to listen, learn, and lead.”
Flores is also a strong regional advocate. He was appointed Federal Political Coordinator and serves as a Political Involvement Committee Representative for South Texas. He has worked directly with our elected officials to support legislation that positively impacts South Padre Island and the Rio Grande Valley.
Experience matters when results are on the line. As broker and owner of Effective Real Estate, his team has produced more than fifteen million dollars in sales volume on South Padre Island and more than one hundred million dollars across the Rio Grande Valley in the last few years. He holds the prestigious CCIM designation (Certified Commercial Investment Member) and has spoken at several conferences in Mexico on global real estate to build cross-border partnerships that strengthen tourism and commerce for the Island and the Valley.