Despite hotly contested sheriff and commissioner races for the March primaries, few registered voters in Frio County have cast ballots during the early voting period.
According to Election Administrator Sylvia Santos, as of noon on Tuesday, only 773 ballots had been cast in Frio County.
There are 9,305 registered voters.
This year voters will decide a new sheriff as Mike Morse has chosen not to seek a second term in office. The winner of the March primaries will serve as the next sheriff for Frio County.
Pct. 1 Commissioner Joe Vela is being challenged in his re-election bid by democratic candidates Luis Cuellar and Humberto Gonzales. Should no candidate garner more than 50 percent of the vote, the race will go to a run-off election in April. The winner of the March election will face independent candidate Victoria ‘Coach’ Camacho in November.
Edward Carrizales is looking to unseat Pct. 3 Comm. Raul Carrizales; the winner will take office in January.
Pct. 2 Constable Rudy Ortegon is seeking a third term in office; however, Earl Heath is a Republican vying for the Pct. 2 seat.
Former Pct. 1 Constable Rick Ramirez and Ted Nieto have placed their names on the ballot to run for the vacant seat.
Republican Candidate Jessica Villanueva is looking to unseat Frio County Tax Assessor-Collector Ana Alaniz; the pair will face each other in the November election.
Early voting runs until Friday, March 1, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Frio County Conference Room, 410 South Pecan Street; and the Frio County Annex Building, 101 North Commerce Street in Dilley. Election Day is on Tuesday, March 5.
