Eric Cantu

Record on LGBTQIA+ issues

Actions and statements

• Affirming Event Shoreline Blvd / Water's Edge Park, Corpus Christi Oct 10, 2026

  Councilman entered a car in the 2026 Pride Corpus Christi Parade

  Listed as parade entry #9 on Pride Corpus Christi's Pride 2026 parade page; the parade stepped off Saturday, October 10, 2026 (moved from October 3) on Shoreline Boulevard at Water's Edge Park. LGBTQ-related event.

  “Councilman Eric Cantu is joining the Pride Corpus Christi Pride Parade with a car entry this year.”

  Source: Pride Corpus Christi (parade entry list) (opens in a new tab) Advocacy group

• Affirming Event Corpus Christi Oct 4, 2025

  Marched in the 2025 Pride Corpus Christi parade as 'Eric Cantu Council Member District 3'

  Approved political-candidate parade entry for the 2025 Pride Corpus Christi parade.

  Source: Pride Corpus Christi parade entry records (2025) (opens in a new tab) Primary source

• Affirming Event Corpus Christi Oct 5, 2024

  Marched in the 2024 Pride Corpus Christi parade as 'Eric Cantu for City Council District 3'

  Registered a political parade entry for the 2024 Pride Corpus Christi parade, submitted Aug. 19, 2024.

  Source: Pride Corpus Christi parade entry records (2024) (opens in a new tab) Primary source

• Affirming Statement Oct 2024

  Supports a local nondiscrimination ordinance covering LGBTQ+ residents (2024 questionnaire)

  In the 2024 Vote with Pride questionnaire he said he would support ordinances explicitly protecting LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination in employment, housing and public services, and said libraries 'should reflect the rich diversity of our city.'

  “should reflect the rich diversity of our city”

  Source: Vote with Pride (Pride Corpus Christi), 2024 questionnaire (opens in a new tab) Advocacy group

Related local votes

Votes on local disputes that touched LGBTQIA+ representation but weren't framed that way on the record. Shown for context; not counted.

• Related Vote Nov 11, 2025

  Council reshuffles Library Board again: Craig and Moore reappointed; Bindingnavele, Coover, Garza appointed

  Legistar EventItemId 155433 (Ethics Commission / Landmark Commission / Library Board / RZ2 / RZ4 appointments) action text records Library Board reappointments of Patricia Craig and Carrie Moore and appointments of Pooja Bindingnavele, Ann E. Coover and Marilena T. Garza. The Caller-Times (Dec 7, 2025, 'Here's what a shakeup on Corpus Christi Library Board could mean', https://www.caller.com/story/news/local/2025/12/07/corpus-christi-library-board-new-members/87575294007/) wrote: 'Two years after a swift philosophical shift on the city's Library Board, it appears unclear whether the door has fully closed on past debate over the content of books and their placement in Corpus Christi's library system.' (only the lede was readable). Legistar does not record per-member tallies for appointment ballots. NOTE: attached to Cantu (District 3 incumbent per 2026 ballot) as a sitting council member at the time; Legistar lists no individual vote for this member.

  “Library Board: Reappointed: Patricia Craig, Carrie Moore. Appointed: Pooja Bindingnavele, Ann E. Coover, Marilena T. Garza.”

  Source: City of Corpus Christi Legistar, City Council meeting Nov 11, 2025 (action text via https://webapi.legistar.com/v1/corpuschristi/events/4050/eventitems?AgendaNote=1&MinutesNote=1) (opens in a new tab) Primary source

• Related Vote Feb 11, 2025

  Council reappoints Dora A. Wilburn to the Library Board (tie-break from Jan 28)

  Legistar EventItemId 135715 action text: 'Library Board: Reappointed: Dora A. Wilburn'. Public comment (EventItemId 135209) included concerns about 'library policy and explicit books' and eight citizens recommending Wilburn. Wilburn was the board member who later told KRIS 6 (Mar 1, 2025) the policy-revision process was 'wrong'. Legistar does not record per-member tallies for appointment ballots. NOTE: attached to Cantu (District 3 incumbent per 2026 ballot) as a sitting council member at the time; Legistar lists no individual vote for this member.

  “Library Board: Reappointed: Dora A. Wilburn”

  Source: City of Corpus Christi Legistar, City Council meeting Feb 11, 2025 (action text via https://webapi.legistar.com/v1/corpuschristi/events/3681/eventitems?AgendaNote=1&MinutesNote=1) (opens in a new tab) Primary source

• Related Vote Jan 28, 2025

  Council reappoints Jennifer Anderson, Alice U. Hawkins and Carroll P. Matthews to the Library Board

  Legistar EventItemId 135101 action text: 'Mayor Guajardo referred to Item 3. ... Library Board: Appointed: Jennifer Anderson, Alice U. Hawkins, and Carroll P. Matthews'. Public comment (EventItemId 134901) had citizens recommending Samuel Fryer and Marcus Haas versus Jennifer Anderson, Alice Hawkins, Carroll Matthews and Dora Wilburn, plus 'Jan Kettenring ... expressed concern about the placement of all explicit books in libraries.' The Caller-Times (Jan 28, 2025, https://www.caller.com/story/news/local/2025/01/28/corpus-christi-library-board-city-council-appoints-books/77861403007/) reported 'A controversy-laden Library Board will see three returning members after a vote by the Corpus Christi City Council on Tuesday — but a fourth spot up for appointment remains undecided after a tie between the incumbent and an applicant who would be a new appointee couldn't be broken.' Legistar does not record per-member tallies for appointment ballots; the Caller-Times article body was metered/unreadable beyond the lede. NOTE: attached to Cantu (District 3 incumbent per 2026 ballot; seated after the Nov 2024 election) as a sitting council member at the time; Legistar lists no individual vote for this member.

  “Library Board: Appointed: Jennifer Anderson, Alice U. Hawkins, and Carroll P. Matthews”

  Source: City of Corpus Christi Legistar, City Council meeting Jan 28, 2025 (action text via https://webapi.legistar.com/v1/corpuschristi/events/3679/eventitems?AgendaNote=1&MinutesNote=1) (opens in a new tab) Primary source

• Related Questionnaire Oct 22, 2024

  2024 Caller-Times questionnaire on the Library Board book-collection policy

  2024 Caller-Times questionnaire: 'There has been controversy surrounding policy suggestions by the Library Board. What is your position on new recommendations for the book collection policy?' Cantu (2024 District 3 candidate, now incumbent) backed a wide range of materials and diverse perspectives, with transparency and age-appropriate sensitivity; he did not name the LGBTQ+ books or the DEI language.

  “I believe public libraries should offer a wide range of materials representing diverse perspectives. However, policies should be created with transparency, community input, and sensitivity to age-appropriate content, ensuring that all residents feel respected and heard in the process.”

  Source: Corpus Christi Caller-Times (2024 candidate guide: 'Where council candidates stand on issues such as desal, library policy', Oct 22, 2024) (opens in a new tab) News report

Events in the Coastal Bend

• Event Shoreline Blvd / Water's Edge Park, Corpus Christi Oct 10, 2026

  Entry in the 2026 Pride Corpus Christi Parade

  Listed as parade entry #9 on Pride Corpus Christi's Pride 2026 parade page; the parade stepped off Saturday, October 10, 2026 (moved from October 3) on Shoreline Boulevard at Water's Edge Park. LGBTQ-related event.

  “Councilman Eric Cantu is joining the Pride Corpus Christi Pride Parade with a car entry this year.”

  Source: Pride Corpus Christi (parade entry list) (opens in a new tab) Advocacy group

Third-party ratings and questionnaires

• Questionnaire Questionnaire Oct 2024

  Vote with Pride 2024 questionnaire (District 3 candidate)

  Responded to Pride Corpus Christi's 2024 questionnaire; said he supports ordinances explicitly protecting LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination in employment, housing and public services, and opposed efforts that diminish public institutions' inclusivity while supporting parental oversight of children's library access.

  “I believe everyone in Corpus Christi deserves equal access to opportunities and fair treatment, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.”

  Source: Vote with Pride (Pride Corpus Christi), 2024 questionnaire (opens in a new tab) Advocacy group

Every item links to the source it came from. Vote with Pride is a nonpartisan voter-education project of The Mosaic Project of South Texas; we don't endorse or oppose candidates. Research last updated Nov 3, 2026. Spotted an error or something we missed? Email a correction with a link.