Candidates file for places in local elections

By Editor | February 23, 2023 |

CITY COUNCIL, SCHOOL TRUSTEE SEATS, HOME RULE CHARTER, $5M BOND ON THE BALLOT…

The filing period for the municipal and school district board elections on May 6 closed Friday, February 17, with a number of candidates filing for seats across Frio and La Salle counties.

Also on the ballots this year in local cities and school districts will be a bond election and a city charter referendum.

PEARSALL CITY COUNCIL

AND SCHOOL DISTRICT

In Pearsall, voters will decide a mayoral, three council and three school board seats.

Documents filed at Pearsall City Hall show Mayor Ben Briscoe has submitted his name for re-election and will face challenger Albert Alvarez. Alvarez served as mayor from 2011 to 2014, before resigning his position to run for county clerk. Briscoe has served as mayor for the past two years.

Edward Carrizales has filed a bid to unseat incumbent Councilor Tiffany Talamantes at Place 5.

Eugene Rodriguez and Aurora Garza are vying for Place 5 at the council table after Lionel Gandara, who currently holds the seat, chose not to seek re-election.

Incumbent Place 7 Councilor Davina Rodriguez will face challenger Brenda Trevino. Rodriguez has served the past four years in Place 7; Trevino served on the council for three two-year terms from 2016 to 2022.

Voters will also choose three trustees for Pearsall ISD. One-term incumbent Mari Benavides will face challenger Lindsey Bell for Place 1. Matthew Aguilar is hoping to unseat Louisa Martinez for Place 2, a seat Martinez has held for 23 years. Juanita G. Rendon is challenging Adriann L. Ramirez for Place 4. Ramirez was appointed to the position in January after Rochelle Camacho stepped down from a 15-year stint on the board to begin serving as Frio County judge.

Early voting for the school and municipal election begins on Monday, April 24, and runs through Tuesday, May 2, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Early voting in Pearsall will be at the former PISD Central Office at 522 E. Florida St.

Pearsall residents can cast ballots at City Hall from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. during early voting.

On election day, Saturday, May 6, all voters will cast their ballots at Ted Flores Elementary School, 321 E. Pena St. from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

COTULLA CITY COUNCIL AND SCHOOL DISTRICT

At Cotulla City Hall, staff are preparing the ballot for the May 6 election that will include a referendum on a proposed city charter. Voters will be asked whether they approve or disapprove of the city adopting a new charter that will convert Cotulla to a home rule municipality.

Three council terms end this year in Cotulla, and in each case there have been no challengers to the incumbents who are seeking new terms in office.

Councilors Gilbert Ayala in Place 3, Alejandro Garcia Jr. in Place 4, and Manuel Rodriguez in Place 5 will be alone on the ballot and will be declared re-elected after May 6.

Voters in Cotulla ISD will be asked whether they approve of a $5 million bond that school board trustees have set out in order to help pay for a number of security upgrades across the district, including safety measures for students and teachers. The additional expenses have been incurred in the wake of a mass shooting in May 2022 at Uvalde ISD and Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s requirement that all schools enhance their campus safety measures. These may include fencing around every school, ballistic glass and other protective upgrades.

Cotulla ISD has begun upgrading its campus safety features and may use a portion of the revenues from the bond sale to recoup its expenses.

Four school board trustee places are on the Cotulla ISD ballot on May 6. Each incumbent faces a single challenger in the election bid.

At Place 2, Robert “Bobe” Sanchez Jr. is being challenged by Louisa Franklin. At Place 3, Deonicio “Dennis” Ramirez Jr. is being challenged by Alfredo Zamora Jr. At Place 5, Robert Ayala Jr. is being challenged by Annette C. Pena.

Place 7 on the CISD board is held by Richard “Ricky” Maldonado, who was recently appointed to the seat following the resignation of Jamie Whitwell. Maldonado is seeking to hold the seat for the remainder of the term and is being challenged by Susan Garcia.

DILLEY CITY COUNCIL

Two council seats and the mayor’s seat are on the ballot at Dilley City Hall this year, and several candidates have filed bids for election.

In Place 1, incumbent Councilor Inelda Rodriguez faces challenges from Sabino Mena Jr. and Monica Prado Sarinana.

In Place 2, the seat being vacated by outgoing Councilor Nathan Rodriguez, candidates Amanda Ochoa (Vega), Ray Aranda, Lori Ramirez, Gilbert Ortiz, and Everardo “Bebe” Castillo Jr. have filed bids.

Incumbent Mayor Gilbert Villanueva Eguia faces a challenge in his bid for a second term from former Mayor Mary Ann Obregon, whom he unseated in the last election.

Early voting in Dilley will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at City Hall from April 24 onwards, and at City Hall from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on election day.

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