The residents of Palmhurst have chosen Fred del Barrio to be the next mayor, according to unofficial polling totals for the special election.
With polls closing at 7 p.m. Wednesday, early voting numbers showed del Barrio in the lead with 270 of the 475 early votes cast.
In the end, del Barrio was able to maintain his lead with 335 total votes, or 52.18%, surpassing the 50% plus one vote needed to win the election.
Israel Silva earned 210 total votes, or 32.71% of the total votes, while Ricka Tijerina earned 83 votes, or 12.19% of the votes, and Eduardo “Eddie” Montalvo earned 14 votes, or 2.18%.
According to the Hidalgo County Elections website, 642 of the city’s 1,750 registered voters, or 36.69%, turned out to cast their votes in the special election.
The election was called after deceased Mayor Ramiro J. Rodriguez Jr. was reelected during the May 7 mayoral race. Rodriguez, who died abruptly on April 6, defeated his challenger, Silva.
Rodriguez earned 330 votes, or 58.2% of the total votes, toward his posthumous reelection, while Silva earned 237 votes, or 41.8% of the total votes.
Del Barrio will be the city of Palmhurst’s first new mayor since the late Rodriguez took office in 1999.
Del Barrio was not immediately available for comment following his victory.
