Over 30 persons registered for March & November 2014 elections in Maverick County
By: Jose G. Landa
Copyright 2013 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
A total of over 30 persons registered as candidates for the 2014 Maverick County elections on March and November 2014 as the deadline to register passed on Monday, December 9, 2013 at 6 P.M.
Maverick County Judge David R. Saucedo registered as a candidate with the Democratic Party for re-election to another four year term and drew no opposition within the Maverick County Democratic Party for the March 4, 2014 primary election, but, however, did draw two opponents for the November 4, 2014 general election in former Maverick County Sheriff Tomas S. Herrera as an Independent Candidate and Maverick County Republican Party Chairman Jose Reyna. This should be an interesting and marathon race between the three candidates.
For Maverick County Commissioner Precinct 1, a total of four candidates registered with the Maverick County Democratic Party including currently-appointed Commissioner Gerardo “Jerry” Morales who seeks to get elected to a full four year term, Iraq War veteran and local hardware and lumber manager Leo Buentello is challenging Morales for Precinct 1 Commissioner, local businessman Mark De Los Santos also registered, and local businesswoman Nancy Gonzalez seeks to become the first woman Precinct 1 Commissioner.
In the Maverick County Commissioner Precinct 2 race, a total of eight candidates registered with the Maverick County Democratic Party including currently-appointed Commissioner Asalia Casares who seeks to get elected to a full four year term, former Interim Commissioner and local journalist Daniela Renee Flores-Aleman seeks to return to the Precinct 2 Commissioner post by getting elected to a regular four year term, local businesswoman and bail bondswoman Rosy Cantu seeks to upset the field of eight candidates to a four year term, local political activist and Maverick County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 Board of Director Yolanda Lopez Mauricio knows Precinct 2 like the palm of her hand and hopes to get elected to a four year term, former Eagle Pass Independent School District Board of Trustee and local Christian leader Tom Cary has experience in public government and seeks to best the field of eight candidates, former Maverick County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 Martha Chacon knows everyone in Precinct 2 and seeks to ride it to a four year election term, local citizen Everardo Ballesteros registered and is confident he can pull off an upset to a four year term, and Maverick Countian Marco Antonio Gloria is popular in Precinct 2 and believes he can win a four year term.
For Maverick County Commissioner Precinct 4, a total of four candidates registered including currently-appointed Commissioner, U.S. Marine veteran, and former School Teacher Roberto Ruiz seeks to get elected to a full four year term, local political activist and Maverick County Democratic Party member Luis Alfonso Ruiz seeks to upset Roberto Ruiz (no relation) and instill new leadership in Precinct 4, former Eagle Pass Fire Chief and Maverick County Road & Bridge Director Guadalupe “Lupe” Cardona has experience and seeks to get elected to a four year term, and local School Teacher Rossy Leos is popular and seeks to ride it to a four year term.
In the Maverick County District Clerk race, incumbent Irene Rodriguez will not seek re-election leaving former Time Warner Cable Manager and County Judge’s Administrative Assistant Leopoldo “Polo” Vielma is well-liked and seeks to get elected to a four year term, but longtime legal assistant Carmen Molano is challenging Vielma and hopes her legal experience gets her elected to a four year term.
For Maverick County Clerk, incumbent Sara Montemayor seeks re-election to a new four year term based on her record while challenger Rosa Alfaro Martinez is very popular and hopes to oust incumbent Montemayor to a four year term.
In the Maverick County Treasurer race, current-appointee and Maverick County Hospital District Board of Trustee Rito J. Valdez, III, is the only one who registered in light of the joint FBI and Texas Rangers corruption investigation of Maverick County and should get elected to a full four year term unless an independent or write-in candidate should challenge him before the August 2014 deadline. Valdez is subject of a pending conflict of interest dual office opinion request to the Texas Attorney General’s Office by the Maverick County Hospital District Board of Trustees through State Representative Poncho Nevarez.
For Maverick County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 post, incumbent Judge Kina Mancha has judicial experience and has implemented innovative community work programs seeking re-election to another four year term, former Eagle Pass Police Officer Charlie Ruiz is very popular and hopes his hard work and popularity help him upset Judge Mancha, and former Eagle Pass Police Department Dispatcher and correctional officer David Sifuentes has maturity and experience with the legal system.
In the Maverick County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 race, current-appointee Dora Madera seeks to utilize her experience to get elected to a four year term while challenger Gabino Musquiz knows Precinct 2 with his eyes closed and seeks to upset Judge Madera to a four year term.
For Maverick County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3-AB post, incumbent Judge Cesar Iracheta will retire after 19 years leaving former law enforcement officer David J. Castaneda to gain the confidence and vote of Precinct 3-AB voters to a four year term, while former Maverick County Deputy Sheriff Officer Gilbert Salas is very popular and well-liked seeking to upset Castaneda and local businessman Ramiro “Ram” Garcia knows Precinct-3AB like night and day and hopes to get elected to a four year term.
In the Maverick County Justice of the Peace Precinct-3C in Normandy and Quemado, incumbent Judge Jeannie Smith is unopposed and hopes her judicial experience and community service gets her elected to another four year term.
For Maverick County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 post, incumbent Judge Tere Melendrez narrowly escaped drawing an opponent and should get re-elected to another four year term.
In the 293rd Judicial District Court Judgeship, incumbent District Judge Cynthia Muniz drew no opponent and should easily win re-election to another four year term.
For the 365th Judicial District Court Judgeship, incumbent District Judge Amado J. Abascal, III, is unopposed and will handily win re-election to another four year term.
In the State Representative District 74 race, incumbent Representative Poncho Nevarez is unopposed and should easily win re-election to another two year term.
For the U.S. House of Representatives District 23-Texas, incumbent Congressman Pete P. Gallego drew no Democratic Party opponents but will face a Republican Party opponent in November 2014.
In the Maverick County Democratic Party Chairperson post, incumbent Victor E. Perry drew no opposition and will get elected to another four year term.
