RAYMONDVILLE — After a dismal early voting period, residents will go to the polls today in a runoff to decide Willacy County’s Precinct 2 county commissioner’s race and a battle to replace longtime County Clerk Terry Flores.
In a rematch of the 2014 election that swept him into office, incumbent Oscar DeLuna is facing former Commissioner Noe Loya in the race for Precinct 2’s commission seat.
In the March 6 primary, DeLuna received 332 votes to Loya’s 242. Richard Flores III, the third candidate, fell short with 214 votes of the runoff.
Four years ago, DeLuna, San Perlita’s former longtime mayor, received 299 votes to defeat Loya, who finished with 254 votes.
Loya, a farmer, has served three terms as Precinct 2’s commissioner.
In the race for county clerk, Chief Deputy Clerk Susana Rios Garza is facing Jacob Quilantan, the county’s assistant treasurer.
In the March primary, Rios Garza received 756 votes while Quilantan drew 703. Frances Zamorano-Najera, the third candidate, fell short with 445 votes.
Upon Flores’ recommendation, commissioners appointed Rios Garza to the serve as interim clerk.
Flores, who had served in the office since 1981, retired Jan. 31.
Elections officials are counting on the races to draw more voters to the polls after a sluggish one-week early voting period.
“They don’t understand the importance,” Lefty Cavazos, chairman of the Willacy County Democratic Party, said yesterday. “They’re electing a county commissioner — that’s important.”
Yesterday, Elections Administrator Mary Hope Barrera described the early voting period from May 14 to 18 as “very light.”
Out of 12,425 registered voters, 589 cast early ballots, Deputy Clerk Chris Torres said.
That compares with 1,059 early votes cast during the primary’s early voting period that ran from Feb. 20 to March 2,
County Commissioner Precinct 2
Oscar DeLuna, incumbent, faces Noe Loya
County Clerk
Susana Rios Garza faces Jacob Quilantan
