Hidalgo County Health Authority Dr. Ivan Melendez said Monday he considered running for Congress, but has since decided against it and will remain in his position as the county's health authority.

"I felt, 'What will I be impacting more? A freshman in Congress, one of 400 plus, almost 500 representatives, or as the health authority?'" '" Melendez said. "My expertise is health, right here in the Valley."

Melendez said he planned to pursue a campaign in the 15th Congressional District, but decided against it after conversations with friends, family and members of the community, according to a statement. 

"During the COVID pandemic— I saw a lot of things that were based on political ideology and not really on the recommendations of science," Melendez said. "I really felt that it wasn't time to leave this post as health authority. We still have 58 to 60 people in the hospital a day. We have people dying daily. This COVID pandemic is far from over— there's so much work to be done."

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