Aaron Valdez and Monica J. Cruz Face-Off in Eagle Pass Mayoral Race on Saturday, June 7th
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2025
The race to become the next Mayor of Eagle Pass earnestly commenced on December 9, 2024 when Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr. posted a letter to family and friends on his Facebook page advising them that he did not intend to seek re-election for a second four-year term in the May 3, 2025 City Council Election. Mayor Salinas stated “after months of consideration, I have made the decision I will not be seeking re-election….I have realized that time is the most precious commodity. I have decided that I would like to spend more time enjoying life with those closest to me….It has been an honor to serve as Mayor for this great City.”
Upon publicly disclosing his decision not to seek re-election, the first candidate to.jump into the race for Mayor was City Councilwoman Monica J. Cruz in mid-December 2024. Shortly thereafter, Maverick County Hospital District Board of Directors Chairman Aaron Valdez announced his candidacy for Mayor of Eagle Pass. In early January 2025, local Certified Public Accountant Jesus Casas announced his candidacy for Mayor, too. After a hotly contested race for Mayor, neither of the three candidates obtained a majority of the votes to be declared the winner, forcing a run-off election with the two top vote getters, Aaron Valdez with 1,853 votes and Cruz with 1,760 votes while Casas came in third with 892 votes.
After a long, arduous campaign of almost six months, Valdez and Cruz finally face off in the Mayoral race on Saturday, June 7, 2025 with the winner take all stakes. Both Valdez and Cruz have run exhaustive campaigns in the community and are anxious for Saturday, June 7th to arrive while courting the 18,667 registered voters in the City of Eagle Pass for their vote.
Early Voting period for the run-off election was held from May 27-June 3, 2025 at the City of Eagle Pass Cruz Antonio Munoz Gymnasium, drawing a total of 3,880 ballots cast among the 18,667 registered voters. With only 20.78 percent of eligible voters having cast their ballots, there is a large cache of 14,787 registered voters still eligible to cast their votes and decide the final outcome of the Mayoral race on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at the Regular Election Day.
Regular Election Day on Saturday, June 7th, will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the City of Eagle Pass Cruz Antonio Munoz Gymnasium, 2086 Roosevelt Street, Eagle Pass, Texas 78852. The City Mayoral run-off election is under the direction of City Secretary Érika Rodriguez and Election Judge Enriqueta V. Collett and their staff members.
All eligible Eagle Pass registered voters are highly encouraged to take 10 minutes of their time to go vote and cast their ballots for the candidate of their choice. All voters must bring a valid identification with their photo such as a Texas Driver’s License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS, Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS, Texas Handgun License issued by DPS, United States Military Identification Card containing the person’s photograph, United States Citizenship Certificate containing the person’s photograph, and United States Passport (book or card).
Election results will be announced after the closing of the election poll at 7 p.m. at the front steps of the Maverick County Courthouse, 500 Quarry Street, Eagle Pass, Texas 78852. Early Voting results are first announced and later the Regular Election Day with the overall totals, announcing the winner. Election results are unofficial until the Eagle Pass City Council accepts the canvassing of the votes and approve them at their next special meeting called for that specific purpose.
Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr. final day as Mayor of Eagle Pass is tentatively scheduled to be June 16, 2025 at a special meeting of the City Council where the newly-elected Mayor will be sworn-in and administered their Oath of Office. Congratulations to Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr. on his tenure as Mayor of Eagle Pass, Texas.
Your vote is your voice and the key to our democracy and freedom. Come out this Saturday, June 7th to vote in the Eagle Pass Mayoral Run-Off Election.
