Voters to decide city, school races May 2

By Breyana Segura - Chief Staff Writer | February 18, 2026

New leadership in Pearsall

BREYANA SEGURA & MARC ROBERTSON

Voters in Frio and La Salle county communities will go to the polls on Saturday, May 2, to choose a number of elected officials from a slate of candidates that include incumbents and challengers.

Election season in Pearsall brings a wave of open seats to the ballot, ensuring a significant shift in local government this May, while in Cotulla three incumbents are looking to retain their places.

PEARSALL

The most prominent change in Pearsall government comes at the top, as Mayor Ben Briscoe has opted not to seek re-election, paving the way for voters to choose a new leader for the city.

Briscoe did not issue a statement Monday but noted “all is good,” regarding his departure after his current term. The mayor said he plans to write a column that will be published in the Frio-Nueces Current at a later date.

Briscoe’s exit mirrors a trend of elected city officials vacating their seats this year.

Place 5 incumbent Tiffany Talamantes is also stepping down, creating a contest between candidates Adan Vela and Miranda Gutierrez.

Aurora Garza, who currently holds Place 6, will not face a challenger and will be returned to office.

Rodney Lucio and Edward Carrizales are seeking a seat at the table in Place 7, which is currently held by Brenda Trevino. Trevino has chosen not to run for another term on the council and is instead running as a Republican candidate for Precinct 2 commissioner in Frio County.

Residents in Moore, Bigfoot, Pearsall and Derby will cast ballots to decide two seats on the Pearsall ISD Board of Trustees this year.

Maricela Benavides, who currently holds Place 1, will not seek re-election. Benavides’ departure is notable, as she is the first elected official in the area facing a vote harvesting charge to forego a re-election bid. Victoriana Perez, Mark ‘Bubba’ Hernandez and Juanita Rendon have placed their names on the ballot for the trustee’s seat.

Place 2 incumbent Matthew Aguilar, who currently serves as board president, faces challenger Eulogio ‘Logie’ Rodriguez.

DILLEY
Election plans in Dilley were thrown awry this week on the revelation that councilors had failed to cast a vote on passing an elections ordinance before a state-mandated deadline. The city may be required to move its election date to November in order to meet state law. Three council seats were due to be placed on the ballot, and each had a number of applicants seeking office.

Dilley ISD’s school board elections are held in November.

COTULLA
Voters in Cotulla will choose candidates in three places on the ballot this year.

Incumbent Mayor Sandra Luna is seeking a second term in office and faces a challenge from candidate Kasarah Alvarado.

In Place 1 at the council table, incumbent Councilor Oralia “Mary” Garcia Koraleski is being challenged in her bid for another term by candidate Raquel “Dina” Nunez-Yanez. In Place 2, incumbent

Councilor Trish Garcia faces a challenge in her re-election bid from candidate Billy Alvarado.

At Cotulla ISD, three members of the Board of Trustees reach the end of their elected terms in May but are not being challenged in their bids for another three years at the table. Trustees Louisa Franklin in Place 2, Deonicio Ramirez Jr. in Place 3, and Robert Ayala in Place 5 will be returned to office after the school district announces cancellation of its election.