Maverick County Incumbents Sweep March 5, 2024 Primary Election Victories
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2024
The Democratic and Republican Parties’ Primary Election results held on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, generally favored incumbents as most swept re-election or won their respective party’s nomination except for two races that will have to go to run-off election.
In the Democratic Party March 5th Primary Election, incumbent 293rd Judicial District Attorney Roberto Serna soundly defeated challenger Frank Ponce with 6,181 votes compared to Ponce’s 4,255 votes, a difference of 1,956 votes in the tri-county district composed of Maverick, Dimmit, and Zavala counties. Since there is no Republican Party candidate for District Attorney, Serna presumedly wins re-election to another four year term unless an independent or write-in candidate registers for the November 5, 2024 General Election.
One of the most hotly contested election was for the Democratic Party nomination for Maverick County Sheriff as incumbent Sheriff Tom Schmerber defeated challenger Jaime Salvador Chavarria with 3,868 votes compared to Rios’ 2,294 votes, a margin of victory by 1,574 votes. Schmerber will now face Republican Party candidate Jose Juan Betancourt, who garnered 862 votes, in the November 5, 2024 General Election.
The Maverick County Commissioner Precinct 1 Democratic Party race was swept by incumbent Gerardo “Jerry” Morales over former Eagle Pass Mayor Pro-Tem Yolanda P. Ramon with 1,231 votes compared to Ramon’s 506 votes. Morales easily won re-election to another four year term as their are no Republican Party candidate in the November 5, 2024 General Election.
Another heated race was the Maverick County Commissioner Precinct 3 in the Democratic Party Primary as incumbent Olga M. Ramos outlasted challenger and former Maverick County Judge David R. Saucedo with 1.074 votes compared to Saucedo’s 932 votes, a 142 vote margin. Ramos must now face Republican Party nominee Carlos De Los Santos, who received 304 votes, in the November 5, 2024 General Election.
One of the two Maverick County races requiring a run-off election is the Democratic Party Tax Assessor-Collector with incumbent Asalia Casares garnering 2,372 votes while challenger Ruben Montemayor received 2,267 votes and Leeroy Euresti had 1,068 votes, forcing a run-off election between Casares and Montemayor.
Maverick County Constable Precinct No. 1 race in the Democratic Party Primary featured incumbent Cecilia “Cecy” Maldonado with 695 votes while challengers Ignacio Vasquez had 484 votes and Jesus Becerra received 454 votes, forcing a run-off between Maldonado and Vasquez. The winner of the Democratic Party Constable Precinct 1 run-off will face Republican Party candidate Pedro “Pete” Hernandez, who received 218 votes, in the November 5, 2024 General Election.
Maverick County Constable Precinct 2 incumbent Alberto De La Torre easily won reelection in the Democratic Party primary without an opponent and there is no Republican Party candidate in the November 5, 2024 General Election.
Similarly, Maverick County Precinct 3, Place 1 incumbent Mario Hernandez won reelection in the Democratic Party primary as there was no opposition and there is no Republican Party candidate in the November 5, 2024 General Election.
The Maverick County Constable Precinct 3, Place 2 in Quemado, Texas saw Democratic Party incumbent Sam Chacon win without opposition, but will face Republican Party candidate Abraham “Happy” Martinez, who defeated Carlos Olivares 77 votes to 41 votes, in the November 5, 2024 General Election.
In the Maverick County Constable Precinct 4 race in the Democratic Party, incumbent Joe Mike Beattie defeated challenger Celso Martinez with 831 votes compared to Martinez’s 467 votes, but will face Republican Party candidate Hector “Big Rod” Rodriguez in the November 5, 2024 General Election.
Winning unopposed in the Democratic Party Primary were Maverick County Attorney Jaime “AJ” Iracheta, State Representative Eddie Morales, Jr., and Maverick County Democratic Party Chair Juanita V. Martinez.
Maverick County Republican Party Chair Sandra Botello Sassano won reelection unopposed while Enriqueta Diaz defeated Gricelda Roberts for Republican Party Precinct 1B Chair with 45 votes compared to Roberts’ 37 votes.
