Western Hidalgo County elections: Deceased Palmhurst mayor likely to win reelection

Despite dying last month, Mayor Ramiro J. Rodriguez Jr. appears to have won a new term in Palmhurst, with unofficial election results placing the late mayor ahead with 50% of precincts reporting. Rodriguez received 58% of the votes, or 329 votes, over his opponent Israel Silva, who resigned from his Place 4 seat on the city council to run for mayor. Silva received 42% or 234 votes, according to unofficial results provided by the Hidalgo County Elections department as of press time. The late mayor died abruptly April 6 at the age of 68, when his reelection campaign was in full swing. Because of his death and the apparent subsequent win, the city will have to order a special election to elect a new mayor, according to Hilda Salinas, assistant director at the Hidalgo County Elections department.

In the race for city council Place 3, incumbent Robert A. Salinas seemed likely to also win reelection on Saturday with 67% of the votes, or 374 votes. His challenger, Carlton Martin, received 33% of the votes, or 185 votes. For the Place 4 seat on the council, which Silva vacated, Hugo H. Gutierrez appeared likely to emerge victorious with 57% of the votes, or 320 votes. His opponent, Mary Ann Gonzalez, received 43% of the votes, or 237 votes, with 50% of precincts reporting. In the city of Palmview, the mayor’s race appears headed to a runoff with Mayor Rick Villarreal being short of the needed 50% plus one vote to win outright. With 80% of precincts reporting, Villarreal received 48% of the votes, or 767 votes, according to unofficial numbers.