HARLINGEN — Campaign signs are popping up as election fever begins to waft across town.
In the May 5 election, City Commissioners Victor Leal and Ruben de la Rosa will face challengers while Commissioner Michael Mezmar, so far, is running unopposed.
Friday marks the last day candidates can file for the election, City Secretary Amanda Elizondo said yesterday.
City commissioners officially called the election last week.
So far, the election includes a matchup of the 2015 race in which de la Rosa faced Commissioner Basilio “Chino” Sanchez for the commission’s District 4 seat.
In that race, de la Rosa, an instructor at Texas Southmost College, defeated Sanchez by three votes.
Sanchez, a retired newspaper production technician, first won election in 2012 with a victory over then-Commissioner Jerry Prepejchal.
In the race for the District 5 position, Leal will face Jim Young, an attorney who serves on the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission.
Leal, who runs a computer sales and service business, first won election in a 2012 runoff with a victory over incumbent Joey Treviño.
Mezmar, a financial analyst seeking a third term, won election to the District 3 post in 2012 with a victory over incumbent Tom Hushen.
Early voting runs from April 23 to May 1.
