WESLACO — Despite campaigning, a now-former commissioner candidate’s name will not appear on the ballot this November.
Edward Mejia, 30, submitted a certificate of withdrawal for a place on the ballot on Aug. 25, just four days after filing for candidacy.
“It hurts me that I won’t be running this time,” Mejia said, citing personal reasons for his decision.
Mejia, a longtime Weslaco resident and graduate of Weslaco East High School, will still be involved locally and hopes to serve on a city board instead.
“I still want to serve the community in different organizations and boards that I want to be a part of as I was in the past, when I was the parks board president,” Mejia said, alleging that he was removed because of who he supported in the city race in 2014.
With Mejia withdrawing, the race for District 2 commissioner is now between incumbent Greg Kerr and former mayor Miguel Wise.
Mejia’s campaign reported $500 of political contributions and expenditures during the July reporting period, and spent funds on a website launch and the purchase of T-shirts, according to the July campaign finance report.
Mejia started a Facebook page for his campaign, but had not yet purchased signage.
He plans to support another candidate for District 2, but would not yet disclose who he will back during the November election.
“I love my city; I love Weslaco; I am Weslaco,” Mejia said. ““I plan to represent the great city of Weslaco as your next commissioner for District number 2 very, very soon.”
Kerr, an attorney, has said that he plans to continue repaving city streets if elected, including upgrading water and sewer lines. In fact, Kerr pointed to “miles and miles” of local roads already being repaved during his tenure.
Up until recently, Wise, a former state representative and previous candidate for the 92nd District Court judgeship, served as an associate municipal court judge. The former mayor of Weslaco for three years — this before stepping down in September 2013 to seek the 92nd — has not responded to calls seeking comment.
