Interest booms in political positions

With Cameron County Precinct 4 Commissioner Edna Tamayo's weekend announcement that she will not seek re-election in 2010, the list of potential candidates could mimic that of Precinct 2 commissioner candidates.

Several seats are up for election in 2010 with the most high profile seats being the county judge's position and the county commissioners' seats for Precinct's 2 and 4.

Tamayo, who would have been up for a third term, on Sunday said because other people have expressed interest in the position - if she didn't run again - out of courtersy to them she believed she needed to announce that she would not seek re-election, in order for each to have a fair chance.

Her decision not to seek re-election was a personal one just like running for the position in 2002 was a personal one as well, Tamayo said Monday.

Although she reached the goals she set out when she announced her intentions to run for office, Tamayo said there are still some things left to be done and that she plans to continue to be involved with the happenings in Precinct 4.

"I will continue to be a constituent and advocate for Precinct 4," she said, adding that she has no plans on rescinding her decision not to run for a third term. "I don't do that...I will not come back and say I changed my mind."

Precinct 2 Commissioner David Garza in October 2007 said he would not seek re-election, but later had a change of heart in January 2008 and decided to run for another term and was re-elected for a third term in November 2008.

Tamayo was first elected to the position in 2002 and re-elected to the seat in 2006. She was the county's first female county commissioner.

Although Tamayo said she knows of at least two individuals interested in the position, she declined to name them since their intentions were made in confidence.

County officials believe Tamayo will remain true to her word and not retract her statement that she is not seeking re-election unless no candidates step forward.

"That's always an option if nobody decides to step in," County Judge Carlos H. Cascos said.

Harlingen resident Juan Ortega announced his intentions in May to run for Precinct 4 Commissioner. As of Monday, he had not appointed a campaign treasurer.

Meanwhile, as of Monday, five candidates for Precinct 2 commissioner seat have appointed campaign treasurers to mange their campaigns, according to information provided by the Cameron County Election and Voter Registration Office.

The list includes school board member Enrique Escobedo, former Brownsville city commissioners Ernie L. Hernandez Jr. and Leonel T. Garza,
Alexander Roy Resendez and pastor Victor M. Alvarez.

Hernandez and Resendez have yet to formally announce their candidacy.

The seat is currently held by Precinct 2 Commissioner John Wood, who on Monday said he has not made a decision yet whether he will seek re-election or seek election to another county position such as that of county judge.

He said all the candidates interested in the Precinct 2 seat have talked to him regarding their intentions.

Article 15, section 65 of the Texas Constitution states if a candidate who makes an announcement seeking a different position from the one they currently hold, must relinquish the current position if the announcement is made with more than six months left in the term.

Wood said any announcement he makes will come in January.

Wood was first elected to the Precinct 2 position in 2002 and re-elected in 2006. He previously served as a Brownsville city commissioner.

County Judge Carlos H. Cascos said he plans to seek a second term, although he has made no official announcement.

"As of today, I am planning to seek re-election," Cascos said Monday.

A formal declaration will come later in the year, Cascos said, adding that he plans to run a similar race to the one he conducted in 2006.

Cascos has been a public servant for more than 12 years. He served as Precinct 2 Commissioner from 1991 to 2002. He was elected as county judge in 2006.

Cascos ran against former County Judge Gilberto Hinojosa for the Democratic Party nomination for county judge in 2002, but was defeated by Hinojosa for the party nomination.

He ran against Hinojosa again in 2006, but this time as the Republican candidate for county judge and won by receiving nearly 55 percent of the total vote.