Three seats up for grabs in the Pharr City Commission election this May have drawn six hopefuls split by incumbents and challengers.
On May 1, residents will vote for their selection of who should serve as commissioners for Places 2, 3, and 4. Each race will see the respective incumbent challenged by one opponent.
Place 2 Commissioner and Mayor Pro-Tem Roberto “Bobby” Carrillo, who is self-employed, is being challenged by Daniela Zuñiga.
Zuñiga, a 1997 graduate of PSJA North High School, began working as an insurance agent at Puro Aseguro Inc. in Pharr in 2005, and has worked at her own Farmers Insurance agency since 2013.
The Place 3 race will see Commissioner Ramiro Caballero, who works as a physician, face off against Artemio “Chemo” Palacios.
Palacios has served in both the National Guard and U.S. Army. He served one tour in Vietnam before retiring after 22 years of service. He has also served on numerous advisory boards including the Pharr Housing & Urban Development, Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge, and Pharr Tierra del Sol.
Place 4 Commissioner Daniel Chavez, who is self-employed, will face challenger Isidro “Izzy” Perez.
Perez works as a senior detention officer and K-9 handler at the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center. He has also worked with the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office. He has served as Place 3 board member for the Texas Municipal Police Association and is the Precinct 146 chair for the Hidalgo County Democratic Party.
The last day a person may register to vote in the May 1 election is on April 1 at 5 p.m. Registration forms are available at Pharr City Hall, located at 118 S. Cage Blvd., or at the Hidalgo County Voter Registrar’s Office, located at 101 S. 10th Ave. in Edinburg.
Early voting by personal appearance will begin on April 19 at the Jose “Pepe” Salinas Memorial Civic Center, located at 1011 W. Kelly, and the Development & Research Center, located at 850 W. Dicker Road.
The last day that the early voting clerk can receive applications for a mail ballot to be received via U.S. mail, or common/contract carrier will be on April 20 at 5 p.m.
Early voting will end on April 27.
