Maverick County Hospital District Board of Directors Election Candidate Ballot Drawing Held
By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2016
The Maverick County Hospital District Board of Directors Election Candidate Ballot Drawing was held on Tuesday, August 30, 2016, at the Hospital District’s Second Floor Conference Room at 11 A.M. located at 3406 Bob Rogers Drive in Eagle Pass, Texas.
The order of the Maverick County Hospital District Candidates Ballot positions for the upcoming November 8, 2016 are the following: 1. Maria L. Forth; 2. Gravis Ray Bibb; 3. Doctor Land; 4. J.M. “Chuco” Farias; 5. Dr. Galizia; 6. Jesus Casas, C.P.A.; 7. Ricardo “Rica” Calderon; and 8. Rebecca “Becky” Robinson.
Presiding over the Candidates Ballot Drawing was Maverick County Hospital District Chief Executive Officer Terri Contreras-Patlan, General Counsel Alex Fuller, and Executive Administrative Assistant Lupita Amaya.
Candidates attending the ballot drawing were Ricardo “Rica” Calderon, J.M. “Chuco” Farias, Maria L. Forth, Jesus Casas, and Dr. David Land.
Candidate Calderon requested the Maverick County Hospital District that they please check with the Secretary of State’s Office Election Division to find out if a candidate may be placed on the ballot without their first name or full name as two candidates have requested they be placed without their first or full names. Hospital District CEO Contreras stated that they will follow up with the Secretary of State’s Office concerning the proper placement of a candidate’s name on the ballot.
Contreras advised the participants that Maverick County Elections Administrator Roy Schmerber will be the Election Administrator for the Maverick County Hospital District Board of Directors Election on November 8, 2016 as the Hospital District, Eagle Pass Independent School District , and Maverick County are holding the election jointly. Contreras stated that Schmerber will designate the polling places and election judges as Election Administrator.
Maverick County voters will elect three Maverick County Hospital District Board of Directors among the eight candidates for a four year term. The top three candidates with the most votes will be elected.
The current Maverick County Hospital District Board of Directors is composed of J.M. “Chuco” Farias as President, Ronald Hixson as Vice-President, Humberto Duran as Secretary-Treasurer, and Ricardo “Rica” Calderon as a Board member. A fifth Board of Director position currently is vacant due to the resignation of former Board President Joaquin L. Rodriguez.
Current Board members J.M. “Chuco” Farias and Ricardo “Rica” Calderon are seeking re-election to another term. Board Secretary-Treasurer Humberto Duran decided not to seek re-election. Board member Ronald Hixson term is until November 2018.
UPDATE:
Maverick County Hospital District CEO Terri Contreras-Patlan reported at the MCHD’s Board of Directors meeting held on Tuesday, August 30, 2016, that she had contacted the Texas Secretary of State Elections Disvision regarding the legal issue raised concerning the proper use of a candidate’s title and first or full name on an election ballot and that the Secretary of State gave her a telephonic opinion that candidates cannot use titles, professional licenses, or educational degrees obtained with their names on the ballot as well as a candidate must use either their first name, initials of their first name, or a nick name with their last name on the election ballot. Consequently, Dr. James Galizia and Dr. David Land cannot be on the Hospital District’s election ballot with just the names of Dr. Galizia and Dr. Land as previously requested nor use their title of Doctor on the November 8, 2016 election ballot. Contreras stated that she had contacted Dr. James Galizia and Dr. David Land regarding the Texas Secretary of State Elections Disivion opinion.
