El_Paso,_Texas_city_elections,_2017

2017 El Paso, Texas, city elections

2017 El Paso, Texas, city elections

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El Paso, Texas, held a first round of general elections on May 6, 2017, to elect the mayor and city council. The run-off election was June 10, 2017. Incumbent Mayor Oscar Leeser was eligible for another term, but announced in July 2016 he would not seek another term. Leeser had a cancer-related surgery in 2016, but stated that his decision was not because of his health. Instead, it was because he "ran to do things I thought were really important for our community and I did that."[1][2]

Quick Facts

The election was non-partisan; therefore there was no primary election. However, if no candidate won a majority there will be a run-off election.[3]

The mayor and council members elected in 2017 will serve through December 2020. The term is shortened because of a charter amendment to move city elections from May in odd-numbered years to November in even-numbered years.[4]

Dee Margo took first place in the mayoral race but did not win a majority of votes, so he and David Saucedo competed in a runoff election.[5] Margo defeated Saucedo in the run-off election.[6] 8.57% of registered voters voted in the run-off election, one of the lowest turnouts in the city's history.[7]

Districts 2, 3, 4, 7, and 8 had elections in 2017. District 2 incumbent, Jim Tolbert, and District 7 incumbent, Lilia Limon, were eligible for re-election, but were defeated by Alexansandra Annello and Henry Rivera, respectively. Emma Acosta, District 3 incumbent, and Carl Robinson, District 4 incumbent, were term limited and could not run again; they were succeeded by Cassandra Hernandez and Sam Morgan, respectively. District 8 representative Cortney Niland, whose term was supposed to end in December 2018, resigned in April 2017. The city scheduled a June special election and July runoff election to fill the remainder of her term. The runoff election was won by Cissy Lizarraga.[8][9][10]

Mayoral election

Quick Facts Turnout, Candidate ...

Candidates

  • Emma Acosta (2008–present), city council representative[13]
  • Jorge Artalejo, perennial candidate[13]
  • Willie Cager, YISD basketball coach, director of the Willy Cager Foundation, and member of the 1966 UTEP Basketball team[14]
  • Dee Margo, former Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives[15]
  • Elisa Morales, health science researcher, medical device salesperson, Health Graduate Fellow for Congressman Beto O'Rourke and Senator Lamar Alexander, and legislative aide to Senator Tom Udall[16][unreliable source?]
  • Jaime Perez, perennial candidate[17]
  • David Saucedo, owner of Saucedo Lock Company[18] and former president of the board of direct of the Boys & Girls Club of El Paso[19]
  • Charles Stapler, member of the El Paso County Historical Commission board[20]

Declined candidates

  • Estela Casas, KVIA news anchor[21]
  • Oscar Leeser, incumbent mayor[1]
  • Cortney Niland, city council representative (2011–2017)[22]
  • Emma Schwartz, president and CEO of the Medical Center of the Americas Foundation[23]
  • Joe Wardy, former mayor of El Paso (2003-2005)[24]

First round results

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Runoff results

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City council election

Candidates

District 2

Candidates
  • Alexsandra Annello, student[25][17]
  • Dolores Baca, writer and housewife[26][17]
  • Jud Burgess, artist and activist[27]
  • Alexander Burnside, veteran and Bernie Sanders activist[28][17]
  • Jim Tolbert, city council representative (2016–2017)[29]
  • Raul Valdez, UTEP teaching assistant[30][17]
First round results
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Runoff results
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District 3

Candidates
  • Jaime Barceleau, charitable executive director for the Paso del Norte Children's Development Center[18]
  • Elias Camacho, Vietnam War veteran, retired El Paso Police Department detective, private investigator, and substitute teacher[29]
  • Cassandra Hernandez-Brown, deputy director of Dynamic Workforce Solutions[31]
  • Louis Pellicano, retired person[32][17]
  • Antonio Williams, private practice immigration attorney, and State Democratic Executive Committeeman for Texas Senate District 29 [29]
Results
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Runoff results
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District 4

Candidates
  • Shane Haggerty, retired firefighter and Ysleta Independent School District Board of Trustees president[29]
  • Sam Morgan, owner of El Paso Concealed Carry[18]
  • Jose Plasencia, Green Party activist, chess teacher [33][34][35][17]
  • Diana Ramos, Socorro Independent School District instructional aide and former employee of Congressman Beto O'Rourke[29]
Results
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Runoff results
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District 7

Candidates
  • Lily Limon, city council representative (2013–2017)[29]
  • Henry Rivera, police officer[17]
Results
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District 8

Candidates
  • Trini Acevedo, health unit coordinator at University Medical Center[36][37]
  • Robert Cormell, businessman[38]
  • Gilbert Guillen, retired businessman and anti-arena activist[8]
  • Cissy Lizarraga, retired teacher[38]
  • Adolfo Lopez, attorney[38]
Results
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Runoff results
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References

  1. [1]
    "Mayor Leeser will not seek reelection". KVIA. July 28, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  2. [2]
    Crowder, David (August 1, 2016). "If Leeser's not running, who should?". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  3. [3]
    "Partisan vs. Nonpartisan Elections". National League of Cities. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  4. [4]
    "City Charter changes possible". El Paso Times. January 13, 2013. Archived from the original on July 2, 2013. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  5. [5]
    "Margo and Saucedo head to runoff for mayoral seat".
  6. [6]
    "Dee Margo elected mayor of El Paso - KVIA". www.kvia.com. Archived from the original on June 11, 2017.
  7. [7]
    "What 8.57% Means". June 12, 2017.
  8. [8]
    Crowder, David (April 10, 2017). "City to hold June election for Niland seat". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  9. [9]
    "El Paso County Elections". County of El Paso. June 23, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  10. [10]
    "Lizarraga takes City Council District 8 runoff by more than 300 votes".
  11. [11]
    "Election Summary Report 2017 MAY UNIFORM ELECTION Summary For Jurisdiction Wide, All Counters, All Races OFFICIAL FINAL ELECTION RESULTS" (PDF). El Paso County. May 22, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  12. [12]
    "Election Summary Report 2017 JUNE UNIFORM RUNOFF AND SPECIAL ELECTION OFFICIAL FINAL ELECTION RESULTS" (PDF). El Paso County. June 28, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  13. [13]
    Crowder, David (October 3, 2016). "Lucky No. 7? Acosta to run for mayor". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  14. [14]
    "Mayor, city rep races attract 30". El Paso Inc. February 20, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  15. [15]
    Crowder, David (August 4, 2016). "First hat in the ring: Margo will run for mayor". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  16. [16]
    "About – Elisa Morales for El Paso Mayor". Elisa Morales for El Paso Mayor. April 24, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  17. [17]
    Borunda, Daniel (February 17, 2017). "El Paso mayoral race to feature 7 candidates". El Paso Times. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  18. [18]
    Perez, Elida S. (August 29, 2016). "2 more El Paso mayoral candidates announce". El Paso Times. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  19. [19]
    Seyffert, Estefania (December 19, 2016). "Boys & Girls Club of El Paso facing financial crisis - Story". KTSM. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  20. [20]
    Crowder, David (September 20, 2016). "Retired postal worker joins race for mayor". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  21. [21]
    Crowder, David (August 29, 2016). "So who else is running? Not Estela Casas". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  22. [22]
    Crowder, David (January 16, 2017). "Ready for the next election? Mayor's race is May 6". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  23. [23]
    Wadsworth, Ford (September 19, 2016). "Whispers: No, she isn't". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  24. [24]
    Wadsworth, Ford (September 12, 2016). "Whispers: It's a boy!". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
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    "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 18, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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    "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 18, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  27. [27]
    Perez, Elida S. (January 18, 2017). "Ethics panel criticizes city attorney's delays". El Paso Times. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  28. [28]
    Cullinane, Ashley (May 22, 2016). "Vado residents: Sanders rally biggest event since 'we got a car wash'". KFOX. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  29. [29]
    Perez, Elida S. "Candidates for May 2017 city election growing". El Paso Times. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  30. [30]
    "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  31. [31]
    "2nd council candidate plans run for District 3".
  32. [32]
    "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 18, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  33. [33]
    https://www.facebook.com/JoseForElPaso/ [user-generated source]
  34. [34]
    "Candidates – El Paso Green Party". Archived from the original on March 3, 2017. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  35. [35]
    "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 5, 2017. Retrieved February 5, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  36. [36]
    "The Lion Star Blog by Jaime Abeytia: D8: The Candidates". May 18, 2017.
  37. [37]
    "Acevedo: Employees can help shape UMC improvements".
  38. [38]
    "Four people have filed for District 8 seat". KTSM. April 19, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
Campaign websites
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