Runoffs continued to be dangerous places for incumbents on Saturday as voters in a handful of local jurisdictions settled the last few races left undecided by the May 4 elections:
In Brownsville, Trey Mendez won the open mayoral runoff, 59%-41%, over Charlie Cabler. Incumbent Mayor Tony Martinez failed to make the runoff. John Cowen Jr. defeated Jessica Puente Brandshaw, 60%-40%, to win an at-large seat on the council. He was just three votes short of winning outright in May. Challenger Nurith Galonsky Pizana defeated incumbent D1 council member Ricardo Longoria Jr., 54%-46%.
In Harlingen, D1 incumbent Richard Uribe defeated challenger J.J. Gonzalez by 66 votes, 61%-39%. Gonzalez finished eight votes ahead of Uribe in May.
In McAllen, challenger Seby Haddad defeated incumbent D5 council member John Ingram, 54%-46%, as 13.6% of registered voters cast ballot. Ingram missed winning the May 4 election outright by one vote.
Port Arthur Mayor Derrick Freeman was defeated by challenger Thurman “Bill” Bartie, 54%-46%. Turnout was 12.5%.
In Raymondville, challenger Joel Garcia defeated incumbent P1 council member Yolanda Alexandre, 60%-40%.
And in Rogers, challenger Billy Ray Crow, a current council member and former mayor, defeated his niece, incumbent Mayor Tammy Cockrum, 132 votes to 121 votes. The May 4 election ended in a 93-93 tie. Council members will need to appoint a successor to fill Crow’s unexpired council term, and Cockrum is expected to seek that appointment.
The next round of runoffs is June 29. Voters in South Padre Island will elect a new mayor, and Tyler voters will settle a city council race. We will not have live coverage next week.
©2019 Texas Election Source LLC
