Reprint from the Progress Times - May 18, 2007
©Progress Times 2007 - All Rights Reserved

Mission Mayor Re-Elected
Mission Schools Get New Trustees

By Kathy Olivarez

While the re-election of Mission Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas was no surprise, the overwhelming defeat of two-term Mission CISD trustee J.D. Villarreal stunned many in the community as the May 12 election results were announced.

Mayor Salinas successfully staved off a strong challenge by Mission Councilman Armando O’cana who took 44 percent of the vote. The mayor received 2,615 votes to O’cana’s 2,045 votes, for a 570 vote margin of victory. The vote count is unofficial until the city council meets on May 21 to canvass the vote. Mission elections officer, Anna Carrillo, said there are still three provisional votes pending, but this is not enough to affect the outcome of any of the city races.

Following the election, Salinas expressed his appreciation to all who participated in the election. He said he plans to keep moving Mission forward by doing what he has been doing for the past nine years.

School and city elections were held Saturday, May 12, throughout the city with the following results. Unofficial results for the city of Mission showed Mayor Beto Salinas, the incumbent, returning to office with a total to 2,615 votes while his opponent, Dr. Armando O’cana garnered a total of 2,045 votes.

Mayor Beto Salinas would like to thank everyone who participated in his re-election. He plans to keep moving Mission forward by doing what we have been doing for the last nine years.

"We will be concentrating on traffic needs in the city beginning with the widening of Mile 2 Road from Conway to Shary Road and later west from Conway to La Homa Road. Widening of Shary from FM 495 to Mile 3 Road is planned. Future plans include widening of Business 83 to Penitas. Expansion of the Military Highway to Abram Road to form a southwestern loop around the city should begin later this year," said Salinas. "I am very happy with the signing of contracts for the construction of the Anzalduas Bridge that happened recently. Actual construction should begin within two to three weeks and completion of the bridge is expected to take 18 to 22 months."

Place One incumbent Celestino Ramirez was also returned to office with 2,511 votes while his opponent Ruben Sanchez received 1,922 votes.

"I am pleased with my return to office," said Ramirez. "My opponent Ruben Sanchez is a very nice man and I was not sure which of us would win."

"I am looking forward to the completion of the Anzalduas Bridge, a project that the city council has worked long to achieve. And I am looking forward to working on the downtown area of Mission in my next term. I would like to see additional improvements made to enhance the downtown area,” said Ramirez.

Norie Gonzalez Garza received 2,752 votes in her successful bid for Mission City Council, Place Three, the seat vacated by Armando O’cana when he chose to run for mayor. Her opponent, David Vela, received 1,718 votes.

"I am looking forward to helping the City of Mission continue the growth and success it has enjoyed in the last nine years," said Garza of her victory. "I am ready to go to work and get it done. And I would like to thank everyone for their showing of support in electing me to the position."

SCHOOL ELECTION

The unofficial election results for the Mission Consolidated Independent School District showed Raymond Longoria returning to Place One with 1,813 votes. He was unopposed in his bid for re-election.

Dr. Sonia Trevino soundly defeated two-term incumbent J.D. Villarreal for Place Two on the MCISD board of trustees. Trevino received 1,960 votes to Villarreal’s 946. The Progress Times was unable to reach Trevino for comment.

Moises "Moy" Iglesias took Place Three, the school board seat vacated by Norie Gonzalez Garza, who chose to run for City Council, by a narrow margin of 1,466 votes over his opponent, Ramon M. Rodriguez who had 1,310 votes.

"I would like to thank those who voted for me," stated new board member Moises Iglesias. "My opponent and I met and discussed the campaign at the beginning and promised we would keep the campaign clean and let the voters decide. I am pleased they chose me although it was by a narrow margin."

Iglesias continued, saying there were several issues he would like to see addressed. First and foremost was the overcrowding of several schools. He is also concerned with why students are going through school and yet are unable to pass final exit tests when it comes to graduation requirements.

"I would like to see the district divided into three zones when it comes to selecting board members," said Iglesias. "Under my plan there would be two board members from each district and one elected at-large. This would provide a fairer representation for all of the district’s residents rather than having all of the board members who are elected live in one area."

Iglesias’ final concern is that the Bible be used as a learning tool. "In some districts, the Bible is being included as part of the history curriculum. I feel that Mission should be able to do the same thing," he said.