HARLINGEN — Voters across Harlingen and San Benito go the polls today to cast ballots in city and school elections.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
In Harlingen, two-term incumbent Michael Mezmar, a financial analyst, is facing businessman Richard Garza for the City Commission’s Place 3 seat.
In the race for Place 4, one-term incumbent Ruben de la Rosa, an instructor at Texas Southmost College, is squaring off against former Commissioner Basilio “Chino” Sanchez, a retired newspaper production technician.
The race is match up of the May 2015 contest which de la Rosa won by three votes.
Meanwhile, in the race for Place 5, two-term incumbent Victor Leal, who runs a computer sales and service business, is facing Jim Young, an attorney who serves on the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission.
In Harlingen’s only contested school board election, Belinda Reininger, a university professor, Santiago Villanueva, a retired school district administrator, and Debbie Flores, a legal assistant, are running for the Place 6 seat being vacated by George McShan after 30 years.
San Benito elections
In San Benito’s city election, one-term incumbent Esteban Rodriguez, owner of a freight company, is facing Ricardo Guerra, a Harlingen firefighter in the contest for the city commission’s Place 3 seat.
Meanwhile, in the race for Place 4, incumbent Carol Lynn Sanchez, an attorney who won her seat last year in a special election to fulfill Commissioner Joe D. Gonzalez’s term, faces a challenge from retired businessman and former parks board President Mike Frazier.
In San Benito’s school district election, former school board member Fatima Huerta, a student, is squaring off against retired teacher Sonia Weaver for the Place 2 seat.
Meanwhile, in the race for Place 3, incumbent Joe G. Gonzalez is facing retired teacher Janie Silva.
Harlingen city — 1,034 ballots cast with 184 mail-in ballots
Harlingen school — 1,480 ballots cast with 330 mail-in ballots
San Benito city — 1,075 ballots cast
San Benito school — 1,287 ballots cast
