Sepulveda defeats Boswell for Harlingen mayor in historic election

HARLINGEN — In a historic election drawing heavy voter turnout, attorney Norma Sepulveda pulled 60 percent of the vote to defeat five-term Mayor Chris Boswell, becoming the first woman to win the city’s top elected position.

Meanwhile, City Commissioner Richard Uribe and challenger Ford Kinsley are headed for a runoff in the commission’s District 1 race.

In the race for the District 2 seat, Daniel Lopez and Ernesto Cisneros are runoff-bound.

‘Historical election’

In the historic race for mayor, Sepulveda drew 3,659 votes to Boswell’s 2,388, calling herself the “voice of the people.”

“This is a historical election,” she said surrounded by family and friends at the Moon Rock Food Truck Park at about 8:45 p.m. “I’m excited to be the voice of the people. I’m a mayor for all of Harlingen. I’m not here for division. I’m here to put Harlingen first and I think we’re ready for a change. We want a government and mayor for the people.”

“From the beginning, this election was about bringing people from all parts of our community together,” she added in a prepared statement. “I am inspired by the historic turnout in this municipal election and I am excited to

represent a unified city ready to make Harlingen the capital of the RGV once again. I also want to thank Mr. Boswell for his many years of public service. Once in office, I vow to be a mayor for all of Harlingen, regardless of who people voted for in this election.”

Boswell, the city’s longest-serving mayor, offered his support during the transition.

“I want to congratulate my opponent Norma Sepulveda in her election as mayor of Harlingen,” he said. “It’s been an honor and a privilege to have served as mayor for 15 years but the voters of Harlingen elected Mayor Sepulveda and I offer my support to her.”

In the District 1 race, Kinsley, a retired Marine Corps sergeant major serving as the Marine Military Academy’s alumni relations director, drew 451 votes while Uribe, a restaurant owner vying for a third term, trailed with 432. Meanwhile, J.J. Gonzalez, a real estate broke who served two terms on the commission, fell short of the runoff with 374 votes.

In the District 2 race, Daniel Lopez, an attorney, won 345 votes while Cisneros, a retired U.S. Border Patrol agent, drew 225 votes.

Meanwhile, Nick Consiglio, a bank marketing director who serves as chairman of the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission, picked up 218 votes while incumbent Frank Puente, a roofing contractor, took 101 votes.

Propositions

In a special election, voters passed three amendments to the City Charter.

While 3,723 voters cast ballots in favor, 2,098 voted against a proposition changing the way the charter appoints members to the board overseeing Valley International Airport.

The amendment creates a seven-member airport board, allowing each commissioner to make an appointment to the board while the mayor appoints two members.

In a second proposition, 4,434 voters cast ballots in favor while 1,430 voted against an amendment limiting the mayor’s and commissioners’ tenures to four, three-year terms.

While 4,366 voters cast ballots in favor, 1,482 v0ted against an amendment pushing the city’s May elections to November beginning in 2024.

RESULTS: May 7, 2022 election tallies for RGV cities, schools