HARLINGEN — In Harlingen and San Benito, most city commissioners whose seats are on the line are facing challengers with a week to go before the filing deadline for the May 1 elections.
But in Harlingen, Commissioner Ruben de la Rosa, who oversees District 4, won’t seek re-election after planning to move his family to a home in District 5.
Last week, the Harlingen and San Benito city commissions called the elections for May 1.
On Friday, San Benito’s newly elected Commissioner Pete Galvan did not respond to a request for comment on whether he plans to seek re-election to the District 3 seat he won in November.
Harlingen election
In Harlingen, three seats are up for grabs in an election that could shift the commission’s balance of power.
In the race for the District 3 seat, incumbent Michael Mezmar, a financial analyst, faces former City Commissioner Robert Leftwich, a real estate broker.
So far in District 4, de la Rosa’s decision not to seek re-election leaves Frank Morales, who said he’s semi-retired after working as a salesman, as the lone candidate.
In the race for the District 5 seat, incumbent Victor Leal, a businessman, faces Rene Perez, a school teacher.
San Benito election
In San Benito, two seats are up for grabs.
In the race for the Place 4 seat, incumbent Carol Lynn Sanchez, an attorney, faces Victor Rosas, a retired firefighter who has served as a San Benito school district trustee.
So far, no candidate has filed for the city’s Place 3 seat held by Galvan, a pharmacist who won November’s election for the unexpired term which newly elected Mayor Rick Guerra left open after he resigned the post to run for the city’s top elected position.
In San Benito, commissioners are contracting the Cameron County elections department to run the election.
County officials estimate they’ll charge the city about $23,000, Elections Administrator Remi Garza said.
In Harlingen, he said, the city and school district plan to run their elections.
Candidates’ filing deadline is set for Friday.
Early voting will run from April 19 to 27.
