Zamora captures runoff seat by large margin

Newcomer Melissa Zamora unseated longtime Brownsville Commissioner Carlos A. Cisneros, capturing the District 3 slot on the City Commission by a strong margin.

As in the May 9 regular city election, Zamora again came up ahead in Saturday's run-off election with 57.67 percent of the vote compared to Cisneros' 42.33 percent.

"I'm very surprised and extremely humbled," an emotional Zamora, who received 1,365 votes to Cisneros' 1,002 votes, said surrounded by her family at the Cameron County Judicial Building where election returns were released.

Zamora took both the early vote and the election day tally. She received 895 early votes to Cisneros' 651 votes. Zamora received 458 votes on election day to Cisneros 324 votes. Cisneros took the mail-in vote 27 to 12.

Cisneros could not be reached for comment, but before the final vote was in at 8 p.m. he called Zamora to concede the race and congratulate her.

Zamora picked up 556 additional votes since the May 9 race, which also included Moses Sorola who received 652 votes May 9 and threw the race into a runoff between Zamora and Cisneros.

On the other hand, Cisneros picked up 263 votes. Sorola endorsed Cisneros.

Zamora, 32, credits an extensive network of volunteers for her election and support from the Brownsville Union Coalition. "They helped tremendously, down to their kids," Zamora said of supporters.

"We stayed the course," she said of her positive campaign. "We remained above the fray," Zamora, who is spokeswoman for the South Padre Island Convention and Visitors Bureau, added.

Zamora's platform centered on fiscal responsibility, public safety, unity and community, communication, tourism and civic duty.

Cisneros, who has been on the commission since 2002, took credit for creating 8,700 jobs, improving drainage and also 190 streets, and development of the Brownsville Sports Park.

A City Commission meeting has not yet been scheduled to canvass election returns.