SAN BENITO — This politically-charged town is gearing up for the races.
Today, the city is expected to call a May 5 election in which two commission seats would be up for grabs.
Yesterday, Commissioners Esteban Rodriguez and Carol Lynn Sanchez said they planned to file for candidacy.
Rodriguez, owner of a freight company, plans to seek a second term in the race for the Place 3 seat he won with a sizeable victory over longtime incumbent J.D. Penny in May 2015.
Sanchez, an attorney, won the Place 4 seat in a 2017 special election to fulfill longtime Commissioner Joe D. Gonzalez’s term, after he resigned to launch an unsuccessful bid for a school board position.
Sanchez is also running for Cameron County Court-At-Law No. 2 judge in the March 6 primary, where she will face longtime incumbent Laura Betancourt.
Although the City Charter states commissioners can hold no other elected office, Sanchez has said her research shows she can run for the county judgeship.
In the San Benito election, filing for candidacy begins Wednesday.
Meanwhile, filing deadline is set for Feb. 16.
Early voting will run from April 25 to May 3.
– Esteban Rodriguez, freight company owner
Place 3 incumbent won election in 2015
– Carol Lynn Sanchez, attorney
Place 4 incumbent won special election in 2017
