In the Delta region, two proposals to amend the city charter failed Tuesday night.
Proposition A, which would have lengthened the terms of Edcouch’s aldermen from two years to the statutory maximum of four years, fell by just 21 votes.
A total of 490 people voted for the measure, while 511 voted against it.
Meanwhile, the margin was even narrower for Proposition B, which would have required candidates to pay a $1,500 filing fee for the privilege of applying to run for office.
That measure failed by 10 votes — 484 votes for, to 494 against.
Edcouch officials were carefully watching the election returns Tuesday night and — for a while — thought that both measures had passed.
“Up until when the county showed 100%, we actually went over by 9 votes on A and I believe it’s two votes on B,” Edcouch City Manager Victor Hugo de la Cruz said via phone Wednesday.
But as the city manager has stated several times previously, he thinks Tuesday’s results were less a reflection of the will of the people, and more a reflection on a very vocal minority.
“Those are the people that live off of elections,” de la Cruz said.
The city manager said he was most disappointed that the proposal to lengthen term limits didn’t pass.
He said the city’s short two-year terms led to political instability that, in turn, has detrimental impacts on Edcouch’s ability to address even the most basic of needs.
“I have to say it — every year, I’m fighting for my job. And it shouldn’t be like that,” de la Cruz said.
“And it’s not just me, it’s the assistants and the regular people that work here,” who also have to worry about their job stability, he added.
With two-year city council terms, Edcouch residents are cycling through at least two aldermen elections every year at a cost of about $40,000 per year, the city manager said.
“Nobody wants to make a move because they’re scared they’re not gonna get elected,” de la Cruz said.
As a result, Edcouch has put off things such as conducting rate studies for its water and wastewater service — something that hasn’t been done once during de la Cruz’s tenure as city manager.
And with inflation causing prices to rise on everything from fuel to chemicals, Edcouch’s long-stagnant water rates are not keeping pace with the higher operational costs.
Though voters shot down the two propositions this time around, de la Cruz said he’s confident the measures will make it onto the ballot in the future.
In the meantime, residents will welcome a new alderwoman once the election results are canvassed.
Selma Garcia Morales ran uncontested for the Alderman Place 5 seat that was previously held by Lorenzo “Lencho” Cabrera.
Incumbents Rene Adan Flores and Joel Segura also ran uncontested races for Places 1 and 2 on the Edcouch City Council, respectively.
