On the ballot: Nine file for SBCISD board, eight file for City

Election season
Pictured are two 2020 election posters along Business 77, one of Rick Guerra and behind it one of Jack Garcia.
(Staff photo by David Lopez)

By J. NOEL ESPINOZA
Special to the NEWS

*Update: Esteban Rodriguez filed to run for City Commissioner, Place 3 on Wednesday, which was not included in the print edition due to deadline.

Nine candidates have filed for five spots on the ballot for the San Benito Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees elections scheduled for May 2, and eight candidates have filed to run for mayor and city commission for the City of San Benito.

Five of seven seats are up for grabs on the school board, including the seat currently held by Place 7 board member Angel Mendez, who has decided not to run for re-election this year. The names of the list of candidates were released by SBCISD on Monday.

Santiago “Jimmy” Sanchez and Janie Lopez have filed to run for Mendez’s seat. Janie Lopez, a former employee of SBCISD, is one of several residents who filed a complaint last year to oust former trustee Michael A. Vargas, who was arrested for driving while intoxicated in Harlingen July 5.

Current SBCISD Board of Trustees President Orlando “Papas” Lopez will be challenged by former SBCISD After School Program Director Jack Garcia, who was dismissed from SBCISD in 2019.

In place 5, current trustee M. L. Garcia, a relative of Jack Garcia, is facing Rudy Corona.

In place 6, trustee Victor Eloy Rosas is facing Joseph Galarza. In Place 1, Baldemar Olivarez Jr., who was appointed to complete Vargas’s term early this year, hasn’t filed his candidacy to retain his seat. However, Anna Garza Llanes has filed for the seat to fill Place 1.

First, Janie Lopez had filed to run for Place 5, but later changed to run in Place 7.

The only two board members who are not facing re-election this year are Vice-President Sonia Weaver and Secretary Janie Silva, who hold Place 2 and 3 respectively. Both are up for re-election next year.

Filing for candidacies for the school board will continue through Feb. 14.

City Candidates
As of Jan. 27, 2020, seven candidates have filed to run for mayor and city commission for the City of San Benito.

Current San Benito Mayor Benjamin “Ben” Gomez is facing two challengers for mayor, former city commissioner Ricardo “Rick” Guerra and Celeste Zepeda Sanchez. Guerra recently resigned his seat to challenge Gomez.

In Place 2, Daniel Cortez and Deborah Ann Morales will challenge current City Commissioner Rene Villafranco.

In-Place 1, as of Jan. 27, current City Commissioner Antonio Gonzalez is the only candidate who has filed for the seat.

Editor’s note: This article has been edited for length. To read the full story, click here or make sure to grab a copy of the Jan. 31-Feb. 6, 2020 issue of the NEWS.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2020/01/31/on-the-ballot-nine-file-for-sbcisd-board-eight-file-for-city/

4 comments

Skip to comment form

    • Minding my business on February 15, 2020 at 11:10 pm
    • Reply

    Same with Guerra and Galarza Dale shine car wash started months after plaza and they are opening in a week. Workers of dale shine go to buy drinks (dollar general) and they say that Resaca plaza workers are messy. Just buy the looks They taking way to long and ugly looking is exactly what Resaca plaza is looking on that lineup dale shine has red metal it looks nice & clean Hope someone looks into Resaca plaza doesn’t take a Genius to see its looking bad

    • Ms Galarza on February 14, 2020 at 4:35 pm
    • Reply

    Lol.. so I’m not the only one that thinks that Resaca plaza looks horrible. Just wait u will see pieces floating in the Resaca…when and if the weather gets bad.. lol…

    It’s funny and pathetic.. plus the workers are all taking their sweet time… Making more money. Lol

    • minding my own business on February 13, 2020 at 6:14 pm
    • Reply

    Sounds like Mr Guerra has a VESTED INTEREST in that property? Does he realize that other than Code inspections and infastructure is about all the SAY SO the City of San Benito has?

    • Eri Guerra on February 8, 2020 at 6:08 pm
    • Reply

    Who wants to run for any of these seats when all who are there have not brought nothing but twisted order! Look at the Resaca plaza development they are cutting corners on materiel the design looks horrible dents on the side metals they can’t properly put it on the top tips because that metal is not for the sides it’s not the commercial metal- you do the worst deals and then to find out that the developer is going to buy in 15yrs- you all that approved this big win are laughable! Cheap cheap cheap!!!! Just horrible what they are putting on the exterior of those buildings!!! Ruining a beautiful land that could of bean an attraction for our community! makes no sense on the promotion of increase pay on the development department lady -what for exactly??? They (she) should be out there watching making sure that things get done on time and correctly! Making sure on having San Benito residents best interest at all times!

Leave a Reply to Eri Guerra Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.