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SAN BENITO — In a stunning landslide, Mayor Rick Guerra won a landmark victory, leading a slate of candidates to take control of the city commission after years under San Benito’s rival political faction.
While Guerra clinched his second term, Deborah Morales, a member of the city’s Economic Development Commission, and Tom Goodman, a real estate broker, also won by big margins, shifting the commission’s balance of power.
While Morales defeated longtime Commissioner Rene Villafranco, who’s helped lead the commission’s majority since winning office in 2009, Goodman defeated Eddie Abrego, a San Benito High School assistant principal.
“The people spoke and that’s something I’m very proud of, and we want to deliver,” Guerra said at about 8 p.m. at his victory party at Pappasito’s Smokehouse. “Thank God for everything.”
MAYOR’S RACE
Guerra, a retired Harlingen firefighter who served as a city commissioner before winning the mayor’s gavel in 2020, pulled 1,340 votes to defeat Rene Garcia, who resigned his Place 1 commissioner’s seat to run in the race in which he drew 670 votes, and former Mayor Ben Gomez, who fell short with 143 votes.
“The people came out to start to make a difference,” Guerra said. “The numbers spoke. Hopefully, now we can start moving San Benito forward. We’re serious about this. I don’t want anything holding us back.”
For years as part of the commission’s minority, Guerra questioned City Manager Manuel De La Rosa’s leadership.
During the election campaign, many residents questioned whether Guerra’s victory would lead to a change in the city’s administration.
“He still has a contract,” he said, pointing to the contract ending next year paying De La Rosa $185,000 when a new raise kicks in in July.
PLACE 1
In the race to fill Garcia’s vacant Place 1 seat, Goodman won 1,186 votes to defeat Abrego, who drew 946 votes.
“We swept it tonight,” he said. “San Benito has a rich history, and we’re looking forward to a vibrant future.”
Goodman said he wants to hold town hall meetings to help him launch his first term “so people understand that they’re being heard.”
“It’s a responsibility we’ve been given, and we’re not going to take it lightly,” he said.
PLACE 2
In the race for the Place 2 seat which Villafranco’s held since 2009, Morales won 1,198 to defeat the incumbent, who drew 931 votes.
“It’s a great night for San Benito,” Morales, who serves as vice president of Texas Funeral Associates, said. “The community came out. They showed they want change for their community, which is much needed. I feel the right people are in place now to move the city forward.”
The contest was a rematch of the tight 2020 race, in which Villafranco defeated Morales by about 100 votes in a runoff.
Morales vowed an “open door policy.”
“To the citizens, whether you voted for me or not, ‘I’m here for you with an open door policy for any concern you may have — and I want to be held accountable.’”
Find the complete, unofficial election results of races across the Rio Grande Valley here.
