HARLINGEN – Last night’s recount failed to untie the knot that had been created when residents gave two school board candidates an equal number of votes earlier this month.
The school district last night performed a formal recount of the votes cast in the May 7 election.
Rosalinda Mercado-Garza and Eladio Jaimez both received 1,422 votes. The nearly 5-hour recount yesterday at Harlingen City Hall confirmed that tally.
Those numbers will be unofficial until tonight when the school board canvasses the votes.
The next step is another election.
Mercado-Garza and Jaimez both turned down the offer to flip a coin to determine the winner, which is allowed by the Texas Election Code in the event of a tie.
They both felt they had a responsibility to their supporters and the voters to continue with the election process.
Julio Cavazos, chief financial officer for the district, said the new election would take place now less than 20 days from today and no more than 30 days.
Mercado-Garza said she was pleased the process had worked.
The fact the recount had yielded the same result showed those in charge of the election had handled the votes properly.
She looked forward to continuing her campaign.
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