Edinburg quiet as deadline to file for office passes

EDINBURG -- Richard Garcia's main competition at this point is a fill-in-the-blank response.

Garcia, a former Edinburg mayor who announced in January his intent to seek the spot again, was the only mayoral candidate to file for a place on the May 9 ballot before Monday's deadline.

A deadline to declare as a write-in candidate extends for another week.

Edinburg Mayor Joe Ochoa did not file for re-election as he opted to focus on his own businesses.

Garcia said he'll continue to operate like he has an opponent even if he doesn't at this point.

He has placed signs up throughout Edinburg, and he'll forge ahead with plans for neighborhoods forums.

When Garcia heard Ochoa was not running, he expected another candidate to step into his place. On the ballot, at least, it turned out that wasn't the case.

"Regardless of whether there was going to be a candidate, my intent was to run like there was," Garcia said. "I'm going to continue to operate like we do have a race going. We don't want to take the citizens for granted."

Incumbent council members Gus Garcia and Noe Garza also were the sole filers seeking their spots, making it a quiet few weeks for Edinburg since it started taking candidate applications in February.

It was a similar scene in McAllen.

Three McAllen city commissioners seeking election - Scott Crane, Marcus Barrera and Hilda Salinas - also were the only ones to file for their seats, but Mayor Richard Cortez drew three opponents.

The Delta, typically a hotbed for political activity, wasn't too quiet before the filing deadline.

In Elsa, two incumbent city councilmen each drew one opponent while an open spot - Place 4 seat holder Jose Alvarado is not seeking the spot - drew only two candidates.

Eight people filed for three seats in Edcouch, including two opponents for Mayor Jose Raul Guzman, who is running for re-election.

The McAllen School Board of Trustees will have two new members after this race and the lone incumbent seeking re-election has a challenger.

Place 3 incumbent Javier Farias, who is seeking a third term, faces opposition from former PSJA High School assistant principal James Torline.

 Podiatrist Dr. Joe Caporusso will run against Ralph Garcia for Place 6.  Attorney Lawrence Esparza, Samuel Saldivar Jr., who is in the insurance business and James Garcia have filed for Place 7, according to the school district.

Place 6 Trustee Conrado Alvarado and Place 7 Trustee Teresa Lee, who was appointed last fall to fill the remainder of the term vacated by Ricardo Chapa, are not seeking re-election.

Twelve cities, four school districts and South Texas College have elections this May, said Hidalgo County elections administrator Yvonne Ramón. The last day to register to vote for the elections is April 9, and early voting begins April 27.

Monitor staff writer Jennifer L. Berghom contributed to this report.

Jared Janes covers Hidalgo County government, Edinburg and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956) 683-4424.