City of Eagle Pass Municipal Election Early Voting Opens April 27th

By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2015, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

City of Eagle Pass registered voters will be going to the election polls for the May 9, 2015 Municipal Election to cast their ballots for two City Council positions, two proposed Amendments to the City Charter, and whether to approve the Eagle Pass Fire Fighters and Police Departments Civil Service Proposition with the Early Voting Period commencing on Monday, April 27th, through Tuesday, May 5th, at the Eagle Pass Multi-Purpose Center, announced City Secretary Imelda Rodriguez.

City Secretary Rodriguez reminds Eagle Pass voters that the Multi-Purpose Center will be opened for Early Voting from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. with special voting hours of 8 A.M. to 8 P.M. on two days including Tuesday, April 28th and Tuesday, May 5th. Regular Election Day is on Saturday, May 9, 2015, from 7 A.M. to 7 P.M. at the Multi-Purpose Center, added Rodriguez.

Eagle Pass taxpayers are encouraged to participate in the City Election and make their voice be heard by casting their ballot for the candidates, City Charter Amendments, and Fire Fighters and Police Civil Service Proposition of their choice.

On the ballot are two Eagle Pass City Council positions, including City Council Member Place 1 with incumbent City Councilwoman Gloria E. Hernandez running unopposed and City Council Member Place 3 has two candidates with local educator and businesswoman Yolanda P. Ramon and local real estate developer Paco Mondragon seeking this position.

Also on the ballot are two proposed Amendments to the City Charter of Eagle Pass, including amendments to Section 3-3 and 3-12 of the City of Eagle Pass City Charter. The proposed Amendment to Section 3-3 seeks to authorize City Council to appoint a City Council Member or Mayor when a vacancy occurs depending on the time period left in that vacancy until the next City election. Currently, the City Charter does not provide City Council the authority to appoint a vacant City Council position or Mayor, thus requiring that a special election be held which is expensive. Meanwhile, the proposed Amendment to Section 3-12 authorizes City Council to appoint an independent auditor to review the City’s finance and budget matters as an independent checks and balances system from the City Administration. Voters will get to vote for or against these two proposed Amendments to the City Charter.

Perhaps the most important item on the May 9th Election ballot is the proposed Municipal Civil Service for Firefighters and Police Officers of the City of Eagle Pass. Eagle Pass Fire Fighters and Police Departments employees seek to set a structured Municipal Civil Service System under a Section of the Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 143, which is designed to provide civil service protection for certain municipal employees including police officers and fire fighters.

The ballot language on the proposed Civil Service System, pursuant to Section 143.004 of the Texas Local Government Code, will read as follows: “For the proposition “Adoption of the Fire Fighter and Police Officers Civil Service Law or Against the proposition “Adoption of the Fire Fighter and Police Officers Civil Service Law.”

The proposition seeks to secure efficient fire and police departments comprised of capable personnel who are free from political influence and who have permanent employment tenure as public servants. If the petition were to be approved by a majority of Eagle Pass voters at the May 9th general election, City Police and Fire Department employees would now be under the state civil service law instead of the City of Eagle Pass employee rules and procedures.

To read the Fire Fighter and Police Officer Civil Service law in its entirety you can go to www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/LG/htm/LG.143.html.

Persons seeking to vote must meet the eligibility requirements including be registered to vote and live inside the city limits of Eagle Pass, present a voter registration card or other acceptable identification which is effective on or before May 9, 2015.

Voter registration requirements include one must be a United States citizen, resident of Maverick County, and live within the Eagle Pass City limits, be 18 years of age or older, not be a convicted felon, and not be declared mentally incapacitated.

The Multi-Purpose Center Election Polling Place will have handicap accessibility and be equipped with electronic ballot-marking machines that allow voters with high degrees of mobility/dexterity loss to mark a ballot independently. The Ballot-marking machines include audio and sip/puff system capabilities and are equipped with ramps and reserved parking spaces for easy access. Curbside voting is available upon request.

A community is only as strong as its citizens’ participation in its democratic election system and casting their ballots for the candidates, amendments, and propositions of their choice. Your vote is your voice. Come out and make a difference.