Mission council incumbents keep their seats

MISSION - Mission voters sent a clear message after the final election tallies Saturday: they are happy with the current council.

Both incumbents for the city council positions kept their seats.

Ruben Plata once again took the majority votes against Armando O'Caña to stay on the Mission City Council.

Plata bested O'Cana for the first time during an October special election for the council seat.

And Mayor Pro-Tem Leo Olivarez, 59, successfully kept his position from Ruben Sanchez, 51, who owns Colair Air Conditioning.

"The voters sent a loud, clear message that what we are doing is right for the city of Mission," Olivarez said. "They are endorsing the incumbents...and we are doing very well and Mission is booming."

"I really want to thank every single individual that came out and voted," said Plata, a 51-year-old bank president. "I will do my best to represent every single person in the city of Mission."

Voters also approved to change the terms of office for city council members from three to four years for those elected to the seats after Saturday.

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Jackie Leatherman covers Hidalgo County government and general assignments at The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4424.