Record Early Voting underway at Multi-Purpose Center

By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2016

Early Voting Period is now underway at the City of Eagle Pass Multi-Purpose Center located on North Adams Street in Fort Duncan Park from October 24th through November 4th, 2016, setting records during the first two days with 739 votes on Monday, October 24th, and another whopping 810 votes on Tuesday, October 25th, totaling 1,549 votes during the first two days.

If the Early Voting Period continues to average 774.5 votes per day during its 11 day period, it is expected that a record total of 8,519.5 voters will have cast their ballots during Earl Voting in Maverick County.  Another 3,000 to 5,000 voters are expected to vote during Election Day on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.  A possible 11,519 to 13,519 voters may cast their ballots in this hotly contested general election out of a possible 29,000 registered voters in Maverick County.

Drawing large voter turn-out are local contested elections, including the Eagle Pass Independent School District Board of Trustees and the Maverick County Hospital District Board of Directors.  The local election drawing the most attention is the one for the Eagle Pass Independent School District Board of Trustees Place 2 between incumbent Ignacio “Nacho” Saucedo and rising challenger Christopher Hiller, drawing a host of paid vote haulers and volunteers to the race.

During the first two days of Early Voting, Ignacio “Nacho” Saucedo has been visibly seen making frantic cell phone calls to his supporters and huddling with his Saucedo political group members such as Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber, who is running for re-election himself, Maverick County District Clerk Leopoldo “Polo” Vielma, EPISD School Board Place No. 1 Candidate Ronnie Rivera, EPISD School Board Place No. 7 Candidate Carmen Schmerber-Garcia, and Maverick County Hospital District Board of Director Candidate Jesus Casas strategizing on getting out the voters.

Meanwhile, EPISD Board of Trustee Place No. 2  challenger Christopher Hiller has been seen rallying with his supporters in developing plans to maximize his voters and expanding it in order to prevail over incumbent Nacho Saucedo.

Another race drawing lots of voters to the Earl Voting Poll is the hotly contested race for the U.S. House of Representative, Texas District 23, between Republican incumbent Will Hurd and Democratic Party challenger Pete P. Gallego.  Representatives of both candidates are seen busily making cell phone calls to get their voters to come out and vote early.

Another contested race drawing local voters is the U.S. Presidential election between Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican Party candidate Donald J. Trump as local supporters are seen at the Early Voting Poll site.

A local contested race drawing many voters is the one for Maverick County Sheriff between incumbent Democratic Party candidate Tom Schmerber and Republican Party challenger Anthony Ramirez.  Sheriff Schmerber has a large political group  which has enabled him to oust former Sheriff Tom Herrera in two previous elections and now seeks to do the same with challenger Anthony Ramirez.  Ramirez has support among local veterans and individuals.

Other local contested races in the Maverick County Hospital Board and the Eagle Pass Independent School District Board of Trustees also are drawing many voters to the Early Voting Poll at the Multi-Purpose Center.

Another local race drawing much attention is the EPISD Board of Trustees Place No. 1 between four candidates, including Jorge Barrera, Ricardo “Riche” Lopez, Juan Jose “Pachi” Olivares, and Ronnie Rivera.

The EPISD Board of Trustees Place No. 6 contested race between incumbent Dr. Hector Alvarez and challenger Carmen Ravenna is drawing many voters as well to the poll.

Also the EPISD Board of Trustees Place No. 7 contested race between incumbent Glenna Purcell and challenger Carmen Schmberber-Garcia has caught the eye of many voters.

In the Maverick County Hospital District Board of Directors election, incumbent Ricardo “Rica” Calderon is drawing support from a diverse group of voters in the community while incumbent J.M. “Chuco” Farias has his followers coming out to vote, challenger Rebecca “Becky” Robinson has a large following, challenger David Land is seeking to draw attention, challenger Jesus Casas joined the Saucedo political group for support, challenger Maria L. Forth has support among local voters, challenger Gravis Bibb late rally hopes to draw voters, and challenger James Galizia is flying low.

The Early Voting Period runs through October 24th-November 4th, 2016 from 8 AM-5PM with a special Election Day to be held on Saturday, October 29th from 7 AM-7PM.

Maverick County Hospital District Board of Director candidate Ricardo “Rica” Calderon encourages all 29,000 Maverick County registered voters to come out and cast their ballots in this election during the Early Voting Period.  “Your vote is your voice,” said Calderon.

CORRECTION:  An earlier draft of this article posted on this website titled “Early Record Voting underway at Multi-Purpose Center”. on Wednesday, October 26, 2016 and printed in newsprint on Thursday, October 27, 2016 incorrectly stated that EPISD Board of Trustee Place No. 6 Candidate Carmen Ravenna was affiliated with the Saucedo political group.  Miss Carmen Ravenna called the Eagle Pass Business Journal to inform it and all Maverick County voters that she is not affiliated with any political group and is running as an independent candidate for Place No. 6 of the EPISD Board of Trustees.  The Eagle Pass Business Journal regrets any inconvenience that the incorrect information may have caused Miss Carmen Ravenna.