Flurry of Candidates Register for Eagle Pass City Council Election on First Day of Registration Period
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2025
With a majority of the Eagle Pass City Council seats up for election in the May 3, 2025 municipal election, a flurry of candidates registered their candidacies on the first day of the registration period, Wednesday, January 15, 2025, with City Secretary Erika Rodriguez at City Hall. The Eagle Pass City Council is composed of the Mayor and four city council members. In the May 3rd City Election, the positions of Mayor and City Council Places 2 and 4 will be on the ballot (3 of 5 seats).
The first to march into City Secretary Erika Rodriguez’s office on January 15th to register their candidacy was City Councilwoman Monica J. Cruz at 8 a.m. for the position of Mayor. After Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr.’s announcement in December 2024 that he would not seek re-election, Councilwoman Cruz immediately announced on social media that she would be seeking to become the first woman Mayor of the City of Eagle Pass. Cruz made good her declaration by being the first candidate to register on opening day of the candidate registration period.
After her registration early in the morning of January 15th, Cruz held a public candidate announcement for Mayor at the steps of the Eagle Pass Public Library on Main Street later in the afternoon at 5:30 p.m. before a large group of family members, friends, and supporters.
The position of Mayor did not take long before a second candidate registered on January 15th. Eagle Pass entrepreneur and Maverick County Hospital District Board of Directors Chairman Aaron E. Valdez registered with City Secretary Erika Rodriguez at 1:30 p.m. at City Council Chambers accompanied by his wife, Stephany Valdez, parents, family members, friends and supporters. Valdez, too, announced in December 2024 that he would be seeking the position of Mayor.
Incumbent City Councilman Place 2 Elias Diaz also took advantage of the first day of registration to formally register his candidacy for re-election for a second term of four years with City Secretary Erika Rodriguez at the City Council Chambers at 12:15 p.m. Diaz was accompanied by his partner, Elishoel Reyes, family, friends, and supporters at the candidate registration. Diaz highlighted the numerous accomplishments and contributions his leadership facilitated, including up to $7.8 million in grants to community programs, during his first four years on the Eagle Pass City Council. Citing there are more projects to be completed, Diaz stated he was seeking a second term to complete these projects and improve the quality of life for all Eagle Pass citizens.
Also registering on January 15th was Eagle Pass transportation entrepreneur Jorge Sierra who signed up to run for City Council Place 2 in the May 3rd City Council Election, challenging incumbent City Councilman Elias Diaz. Sierra registered with City Secretary Erika Rodriguez at 11 a.m. at her office. Sierra did not make any public statement at the time of his registration.
Eagle Pass attorney Alberto “Albert” Rodriguez registered with City Secretary Erika Rodriguez on January 15th late in the afternoon for the position of City Council Place 4, currently held by Councilwoman Monica J. Cruz. Rodriguez stated that he is running for City Council Place 4 to represent the people of Eagle Pass and seeks what is best for the citizens of Eagle Pass. Rodriguez vowed to do his “absolute best” in representing the taxpayers of Eagle Pass.
Eagle Pass Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Hanson Uy Tesy registered his candidacy for City Council Place 4 with City Secretary Erika Rodriguez in the afternoon of January 15th. Uy Tesy stated that he advocates for “common-sense policies and allocate budgets to benefit our community.” Uy Tesy added that he is “committed to bringing fresh ideas and working tirelessly to serve this amazing city.”
After the end of the first day of candidate registration, all three positions on the May 3rd City Council Election have at least two candidates registered, making each position contested.
More candidates are expected to register for the three City Council seats on the May 3rd election during the candidate registration period that runs from January 15, 2025 through February 14, 2025.
Other individuals whom have made public statements of registering, but have not done so yet, include Eagle Pass Certified Public Accountant Jesus Casas who will seek the Mayor’s position and is awaiting for a date which his three children may be present for his candidate registration and announcement.
Any individual interested in registering for one of the three City Council positions on the May 3, 2025 ballot may contact City Secretary Erika Rodriguez at (830) 773-1111 or visit her personally at City Hall, located at 100 South Monroe Street, Eagle Pass, Texas.
