March 1, 2022 Primary Election Heating Up in Maverick County, Early Voting Starts February 14-25
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2022
With the voter registration deadline closed on January 31, 2022, Texas voter registration rolls for each county have been finalized and individual voting cards have been mailed out to all registered voters.
Maverick County Elections Administrator Roy Schmerber and staff have already mailed out over 33,000 voter registration cards to Maverick County citizens.
There are 34 Maverick County citizens registered as political candidates in the Texas Democratic and Republican parties’ March 1, 2022 Primary Elections. In the Democratic Party, there are 25 candidates while there are nine in the Republican Party.
While all the political races are important, the one drawing the most political rhetoric and heat in Maverick County is the race for the Democratic Party County Judge nomination between incumbent David R. Saucedo and former Eagle Pass Mayor Ramsey English Cantu. Saucedo seeks re-election to a fourth four year term as County Judge while former Eagle Pass Mayor Cantu contends “the time is now” for a change in county government.
Both Saucedo and Cantu have raised the political rhetoric with Maverick County registered voters seeking their almighty vote starting since January 1, 2022 with the opening of the Application for Ballot by Mail and continuing with the Early Voting Period commencing on February 14 through 25, 2022 and regular Primary Election Day on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.
Saucedo edged former County Judge Rudy Bowles by 22 votes four years ago on May 22, 2018 after a contested recount while Cantu resigned as Eagle Pass Mayor and lost a bid for State Representative, District 74, against attorney Heriberto Morales, Jr. on March 3, 2020. The candidate who motivates and draws a majority of voters to the polling place will win the Democratic Party nomination to face Republican Party candidate Armando Rosales, who is unopposed, in the November 8, 2022 General Election.
Another race getting hot is the one for the Democratic Party’s 365th Judicial District Court between incumbent Amado J. Abascal, III, who seeks his ninth four year term while challenger Edgar H. Juarez seeks to upset Abascal despite having no prior judicial experience. This race involves the three counties of Dimmit, Maverick, and Zavala. The winner of the March 1 Democratic Party Primary will more than likely go on to be elected at the November 8 General Election since there is no Republican Party candidate.
The race for the 293rd Judicial District Court only has incumbent Maribel Flores seeking re-election to a second four year term and is unopposed in the March 1 Democratic Party Primary and there are no Republican Party candidate in the November 8 General Election, guaranteeing re-election.
For State Representative, District 74, incumbent Heriberto Morales, Jr. is unopposed in the March 1 Democratic Party Primary, but will have his work cut out for him in the November 8 General Election against Republican Party candidate Katherine Parker who seeks to turn the seat red.
In the Maverick County District Clerk race, incumbent Leopoldo Vielma is unopposed in the March 1 Democratic Party Primary, but has drawn a Republican Party candidate, Teresa Gonzalez, in the November 8, 2022 General Election.
For Maverick County Clerk, incumbent Sara Montemayor is unopposed in the March 1, Democratic Party Primary, as well as in the November 8 General Election.
In the Maverick County Tax-Assessor Collector race, appointee Jesus Casas seeks election to his first four year term in the March 1 Democratic Party Primary against former Eagle Pass City Councilwoman and County Commissioner Asalia Casares. There is no Republican Party candidate in the November 8 General Election.
For Maverick County Treasurer, incumbent Rito J. Valdez, III seeks re-election unopposed to his second four year term in the March 1 Democratic Party Primary, but has drawn Republican Party candidate Omar E. Rodriguez in the November 8 General Election.
Another hotly contested race is the Maverick County Commissioner Precinct No. 2 as incumbent Rosy Cantu seeks re-election to a second four year term against challengers former Maverick County Justice of the Peace Precinct No. 2 Rosanna “Roxi” Rios and Sergio Nandin in the March 1 Democratic Party Primary, while the winner will face Republican Party candidate Jose Fernando Rodriguez in the November 8 General Election.
One hotly contested race is for Maverick County Commissioner Precinct No. 4 as incumbent Roberto Ruiz, Jr. seeks re-election against former Eagle Pass Mayor Luis E. Sifuentes in the Democratic Party March 1 Primary, but with the winner facing Republican Party candidate Alma Soliz in the November 8 General Election.
In the Maverick County Justice of the Peace Precinct No. 1 race, incumbent Kina Mancha is unopposed in the March 1 Democratic Party Primary, but will face Republican Party candidate Anna Derbez in the November 8 General Election.
For Maverick County Justice of the Peace Precinct No. 2, the race is hotly contested between Leeroy Euresti, Dora Madera, and Ernie Leija in the March 1 Democratic Party Primary without any Republican Party opposition in the November 8 General Election.
Another contested race is for Maverick County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3, Place 1 as incumbent Domingo “Mingo” Rodriguez seeks re-election to a second four year term against challenger Jorge Raul Olivas in the March 1 Democratic Party Primary while facing Republican Party candidate Mark Garcia in the November 8 General Election.
In the Maverick County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3, Place 2 race, incumbent Jeannie Smith seeks re-election unopposed in the March 1 Democratic Party Primary as well as in the November 8 General Election.
A hotly contested race is the Maverick County Justice of the Peace Precinct No. 4 race as incumbent Teresa “Tere” Hernandez seeks re-election to a second four year term against Maribel Garcia-Rodriguez in the March 1 Democratic Party Primary with the winner facing Republican Party candidate Antonio Garcia in the November 8 General Election.
Running unopposed are both the Democratic Party Chairperson Juanita V. Martinez and Republican Party Chairperson Alfredo Arellano in their respective March 1 Primaries.
Many Maverick County political candidates spend needlessly thousands of dollars advertising in Mexican radio stations in Piedras Negras, Coahuila for political races in Texas. Mexican radio listeners do not vote in United States political races, unless they are United States citizens and are registered to vote. Furthermore, many of these Mexican radio stations listeners in Texas are lawful permanent residents who cannot vote in the United States or are U. S. citizens with a low voter turnout rate. Instead, Maverick County political candidates should spend wisely their scarce campaign advertising dollars with Eagle Pass news media sources who actually reach the 20-25% of registered voters who actually cast ballots in local elections.
Maverick County registered voters are encouraged to come out and exercise their right to vote during Ballot by Mail period or the Early Voting Period during February 14-25 or on March 1 Primary Election Day. All Early Voting Period and March 1 Primary Election voters will cast their ballots at the Eagle Pass Multi-Purpose Center, 480 S. Adams Street, Eagle Pass, Texas. Your vote is your voice.
