Ochoa's conviction leaves Democratic Party without a candidate

For the first time in recent years Cameron County's Democratic Party may not have a candidate on the ballot for a constable's race in the November general election.

Precinct 1 Constable Saul P. Ochoa was to represent the party in the election, but after pleading guilty last month to a charge of distributing marijuana, it knocks him out of the race.

The Democratic Party has until Aug. 26 to nominate another candidate in his place. However, with Ochoa's sentencing on the drug charge not scheduled until Sept. 22, this leaves the party without a candidate in this election.

"I don't remember a situation like that," with the Democrats not having a candidate, said Anthony Knopp, a retired UTB-TSC professor who has studied Rio Grande Valley politics for about 30 years. "This is extremely unusual and obviously it's because they are caught up in this unique situation."

In recent years the Democrats have usually won all the elections in the county because Cameron County is a Democratic stronghold. The most recent exception was in the 2006 November general election in which Republican candidate Carlos H. Cascos ousted longtime Democrat Gilberto Hinojosa in the county judge's race.

"Pretty overwhelming if you are the Democratic candidate you are going to get elected," Knopp said.

Hinojosa, chairman for the county's Democratic Party, said the party hasn't nominated anyone because of the Ochoa's expected Sept. 22 sentencing date which would defeat making any nomination.

The Cameron County Democratic Party has until Aug. 22 to file paperwork with the county's election office citing Ochoa's ineligibility. The party then has until Aug. 26 to name a replacement to be placed on the ballot, a spokesman for Texas Secretary of State Phil Wilson said.

As of Monday, there are two other candidates on the ballot in the Precinct 1constable's race. They are Republican Jose "Joe" Maldonado and Independent candidate Quirino Martinez Jr., Elections Administrator Roger Ortiz said. Ochoa's name remains on the ballot until his actual conviction.

Ochoa's seat could officially become vacant within the next two months after a federal judge sentences Ochoa on drug trafficking charges.

Ochoa becomes officially convicted and his office officially vacated once he is sentenced by a federal judge.

FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration agents in Port Isabel arrested him May 28 after a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment that charged him with possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

Ochoa admitted to making the four sales to the informant, further noting he had a $40-a-day-cocaine habit (and) had been selling marijuana seized as evidence," a summary from the U.S. attorney's office states.