One winner for Cameron County Appraisal District; two races head to runoffs

A man walks into the Brownsville Public Library Southmost Branch Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, to cast his ballot during early voting. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)
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There was only one clear winner in the race for newly created elected positions on the Cameron County Appraisal District Board of Directors.

Phillip T. Cowen had a resounding victory for Place 3 on the board of directors with 60.55% of the vote to Norlene C. Chamberlain’s 39.45% of the vote.

Cowen received 9,647 votes to Chamberlain’s 6,206 votes.

Meanwhile, Place 1 and Place 2 on the board of directors are heading to runoffs.

In Place 1, Bill Hudson received 32.46% of the vote while Alejandro Garcia-Moreno received 25.96% of the vote, setting the stage for the runoff.

Hudson received 5,225 votes to Garcia-Moreno’s 4,179 votes.

Erasmo Castro, who received 3,767 votes for 23.4%, and Jose Raul Davila, who received 2,926 votes for 18.18%, lost.

In Place 2, Ricardo “Ricky” de la Garza and Ruben Martinez are headed into a runoff.

De la Garza received 39.57% with 6,219 votes while Martinez received 28.06% with 4,410 votes.

Minerva Simpson, who received 4,123 votes for 22.24%, and Fernando Lazo, who received 963 votes for 6.13%.

The Texas Secretary of State’s website said the runoff will be on June 15.