Two seats contested in Edcouch government elections

EDCOUCH - Voters are set to decide three seats on the city's Board of Aldermen, only two of which are contested.

In the place 3 aldermen race, incumbent Roy Garcia, a 58-year-old truck broker, faces Ruth Ruiz, a 52-year-old cafeteria worker.

And in the place 5 race, incumbent Mayo Borrego, a 54-year-old car salesman, faces Eddy Gonzalez, a 57-year-old county employee.

Place 4 Alderman Lupita Garcia, 66, runs unopposed.

The incumbent candidates are running together on the same ticket.

Early voting is scheduled to run April 28 to May 6. Election Day is May 10.

Edcouch has seen its share of struggles in the past year.

The city laid off all its employees in September due to revenue problems.

Most employees were rehired in January, although the city still has about $1.5 million in debt.

And former police chief Eloy Cardenas was suspended with pay in March after he admitted to firing bean-bag shells at the car of his wife's ex-husband.

The city water system has been under state receivership since August 2005. Since then, the state has kept water revenues while it upgrades the system to bring it in line with regulations from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Gonzalez, who stepped down as Elsa's city manager in December 2004, said the city needs to regain control of its water supply and properly manage it. He said the city also needs to try and attract new businesses to town to build on it sales tax revenue.

"For many years now there hasn't been anything positive going on (in Edcouch) and I'm frustrated," Gonzalez said.

Borrego said regaining control of the local water system would be a top priority for him if re-elected.

"We are looking forward to running our water and waste water department as a business and not use it for political gains or self interest," Borrego said in an e-mail.

But Roy Garcia said considering the 103 violations at the water department, it remains to be seen whether the state will actually give control of the system back to the city.

And if the incumbents lose their seats, he said he fears state officials' skepticism of the city's management would extend the receivership.

"If we have a change in commission, we're not going to get it back," Roy Garcia said of the water system. "They're not going to give it back until the state is ready to give it to us."

Lupita García said regardless of who wins the election, she hopes the city's situation improves.

"I'm more than sure that we're all for the same goal, to have our water plant back," she said.

Amid the city's debt and water problems, Edcouch is set for the opening of the Mercado Delta, a new farmers market and shopping center. The $3.1 million project broke ground in February. Funded by the federal government, project organizers hope it will attract new businesses and entrepreneurs to the Delta region.

Attempts to reach Ruiz for comment were not immediately successful.

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Jared Taylor covers Edinburg, the Delta region and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4439.