SAN JUAN - Mayor San Juanita Sanchez is set to face City Commissioner Pedro Contreras in a runoff election for the mayor's office.

Sanchez and Contreras bested Eleazar Romero, 70, who was also vying for the seat.

Sanchez, 44, and Contreras, 29, have been fierce rivals on the City Commission over the last year, as the city has confronted issues such as high turnover among city employees and development of the San Juan Corners retail project.

Contreras said he expects to pick up some of the votes cast for Romero.

"I will venture to say that they will help us," he said. "With an open heart, I will ask for their help."

Sanchez said she knew it was a possibility that she would face one of her opponents in the run-off election.

"We'll just work even harder, she said. "This is the commitment I have made to my community and I intend to keep serving them."

Romero did not return a message left late Saturday night.

In commissioners' races, Bob Garza, 43, is set to face Alma Prado, 54, in a runoff for the Place 2 commission seat.

Lupe Rodriguez, 56, is slated to face Ignacio Almaguer, 34, in a runoff for Place 3.

Sanchez, a lawyer, has boasted that the city's financial stability has improved since she was first elected three years ago. She also has touted her success developing San Juan Corners, which is poised to become the city's largest retail center.

Contreras, who works with the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo school district's nutrition department, had been a fierce critic of Sanchez, highlighting a so-called personnel crisis in City Hall, the result of staff layoffs and resignations.

Romero, the PSJA district's migrant education director, had hoped to make a return to the city where he once served as a commissioner.

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Ryan Holeywell covers PSJA and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956) 683-4446.