Candidates Already Weary of Texas Primary Elections Delays, ‘Probably’ May 29 Date

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By Jerry Deal

If it seems like it is taking a very, very long time for the Texas primary elections that because it is -- and it’s going to be longer.

That is because of the recent ruling by the three-federal judge panel in San Antonio was the primaries will not be held before May 29 -- and if then..

Most candidates say they are still out there campaigning, but are getting weary covering the same bases repeatedly.

Former Constable Frank Robles, seeking the Democratic nomination for Precinct 3 constable, said he just wants to get the election over with. Many others agree.

Although most realize the judges are trying to make certain everything is done ethnically right, they say is it is difficult in their own efforts for seek re-election or election, as the case may be.

The primaries were orginally set for March 6, but the maps drawn by the Texas Legislature were blocked by federal judges. So it was moved to April 13 and now to May 39

Especially antsy in the Valley are a group of congressional candidates who believe they will be running in Congressional District 27, but even that is not written in stone.

The three judge panel in San Antonio will continue working on temporary maps in which to resolve just when Texas will hold primary elections and what will the congressional and legislative districts look like.

Because minority groups had argued those maps are discriminatory, the candidates and voters are waiting for the three judges to draft temporary political maps.

The groups have filed suits against the state and the Texas Attorney General’s office.

Holding the elections that late will could ruin plans for the state Democratic and GOP conventions in June.

One issue, state senate districts was settled last Wednesday (Feb. 15), but there is no settlement in the state house or congressional districts.

There reportedly were no major changes in the senate districts in the Valley.

There are six Democrat candidates and two Republicans running in what possibly will be Congressional District 27. Included among the Democrats are two former congressional aides -- Salomon Torres, of Harlingen, who worked for a number of years for U.S. Rep. Ruben Hinojosa, D-Mercedes; and Denise Saenz Blanchard, Brownsville, longtime aide to former U.S. Rep. Solomon Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi.

Others include Cameron County District Attorney Armando Villalobo, Ramiro Garza, Rene Meza Harrison and Brownsville attorney Anthony Troiani.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, of Corpus Christi, has a Republican primary opponent in Corpus Christi businessman Donald Middlebrook.

In the event there is a Congressional District 34, Adela Garza and Jessica Puente Bradshaw both have filed for congress for the GOP primary election.

Further west, in District 15, incumbent Hinojosa faces opposition from four others. They are David Cantu, Jane Cross, Johnny Partain and Ruben Ramirez.

On the Republican ticket are Jim Kuiken and Eddie Zamora, both of whom ran two years ago, and Dale Brueggemann. Other changes are Constable District 4, Rio Hondo area, was merged with District 3, San Benito, and Constable District 7, involving the La Feria area, was merged with District 5, Harlingen. What has been Constable District 6, now is District 4.

In Democratic contested area races:

* Longtime District 37 State Rep. Rene Oliveira is being challenged by Alejandro Dominguez;

* Cameron County Sheriff Omar Lucio has two challengers, both former deputy sheriffs, Terry Vinson and Joe Cisneros;

* The three Democrat candidates for Cameron County district attorney are Maria De Ford, Luis Saenz and Carlos Masso, Masso and De Ford are assistant DAs, while Saenz is a former district attorney;

* District Judge Arturo Cisneros Nelson of the 138th state district court is challenged by Veronica Farias;

* 404th state District Judge Elia Cornejo-Lopez has competition in Rebecca RuBane;

* Cameron County District 3 Commissioner David Garza will go against Jose Luis Salazar;

* Cameron County District 1 Commissioner Sofia Benavides is being challenged by Fausto Martinez;

* Candidates for county chair are John Shergold, Sylvia Garza-Perez and Jared Hockema. One will replace former County Judge Gilberto Hinojosa, who is seeking the state Democratic chairmanship. Candidates for justices of the peace include:

* Precinct 2-2 -- Javier Hernandez, Erin Garcia, Refugio Covarrubias, Israel Tapia Jr. and Yolanda Begum;

* Precinct 3-1 -- Julian Sanchez and Guadalupe Ayala

* Precinct 5-1 -- Dora (Sallie) Gonzalez, Rachal Menchaca and Ernesto Gonzales;

* Precinct 5-3 -- Adam Gonzalez, Mike Trejo and Adam Gonzalez. Candidates for constable include:

* Precinct 1 -- Horacio Zamora and Pedro (Pete) Antonio Collazo;

* Precinct 2 -- Raymond Shears, Pete Avila Jr., Roel Arreola, Juan Torres and Abelardo Gomez Jr.;

* Precinct 3 -- Joe Cavazos and Frank Robles

* Precinct 4 -- Merced Burnias Jr., Juan Munoz and Benito Errisurez;

* Precinct 5 -- Joe Frias, Cesar Rene Diaz, Angela Ramirez-Gonzalez and Rey Gonzalez. Diaz, constable in Precinct 7, now will have to compete for office in this precinct.

Republican candidates for office, who are winners in the GOP primary, and willl face Democratic candidates in the general election include:

District Attorney -- Either Gustavo Garza or Chuck Mattingly;

Sheriff -- Santiago (Jimmy) Manrriquez;

State Representative District 38 -- Alex Torres (will face incumbent Eddie Lucio III);

Cameron County District 3 commissioner -- Manuel Abrego;

Justice of the Peace Precinct 2-2 -- Raul Lopez;

Constable Precinct 1 -- Pedro Degardillo;

Constable Precinct 3 -- Robert Lopez, who now serves as constable in Precinct 4, which was merged into 3. He will face either Cavazos or Robles in the general election.

Constable Precinct 5 -- Don Duncan;

Tax Assessor Collector -- Moses Sorola (will face inumbent Tony Yzaguirre in the general election).

Los Fresnos To Get
New Apartment Complex

A new apartment complex is in the works for Los Fresnos, has been revealed.

It will be started within a few days, as soon as city permits are approved, according to Swain Real, developer of the project.

The first 12 units of a 48-two bedroom apartment complex are set for the first period of construction, Real said. The complex, on E. First Street between Pita and Coma streets, will be build in four phases.

In connection with this, the Los Fresnos City Council on Tuesday (Feb. 14) voted to have the water line for the apartments be extended from Pita Street to Coma Street.

City Manager Mark Milum said the water line could be done to complete a loop that would assure adequate pressure and also to add a fire hydrant.

He said the cost to do this would be no more than $30,000 and probably much less. In another matter that Milum presented to the council, work continues on the water tower. He said much of the exterior welding has been done and work is being done in the interior.

“Once the fixing type of work is complete they will begin to sandblast and paint,” he said.
“While the tower is being worked on we have to have an employee on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week to monitor. This will cause other public works projects we normally do to be delayed due to limited personnel. It should take about three months to complete.”
In yet another matter presented to the council, Milum said work on Community Park is taking shape.

“The weather has caused some delays recently, but should be done by the end of February or early March,” he said.

Milum added that the skate area might be the only part that might take a little longer but it will not affect the starting of the Little League baseball season.

Postponed Rodeo Concert Probably Reset For April 6

The postponed Los Fresnos PRCA Rodeo concert, not held due to threatening weather, probably will be held on Friday, April 6.

That’s according to Rodeo Chairman Mark Milum. The rodeo came off despite rainy weather and muddy grounds, but it was necessary to not hold the concert on Saturday, Feb. 4, featuring Little Joe Y Familia and Tracy Lawrence.

Milum said it has been worked out that the concert featuring a local band, followed by Little Joe, then by Lawrence, will be held on that Friday, which is Good Friday. The concert probably will start at 6 p.m., Milum said. Previously purchased tickets will be honored, he said.

Los Fresnos School District Spelling Bee Champion Honored

Resaca Middla School student Aiza Nisar, the Los Fresnos school district’s new spelling bee champion, was honored by the school board of trustees Monday night (Feb. 13) at its regular monthly session.

The eighth grader won over contestants from the school district’s elementary and middle schools in competition held at Dora Romero Elementary School on Jan. 28.

The is the third consecutive year that Resaca Middle School has had the district champion. Mashad Nair Arora won the past two years, advanced to win the Rio Grande Valley competition and competed in the National Spelling Bee both years.

Nisar will next compete in the Rio Grande Valley district spelling bee on March 3, to be held at the State Rep. Irma Rangel Science Technical Building on the campus of Texas State Technical College-Harlingen.

The winner of that bee goes to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., scheduled for May 27-June 1.

The Valley Spelling Bee competition is sponsored by the Valley Freedom Newspapers.