Reprint from the Progress Times - March 21, 2008
©Progress Times 2008 - All Rights Reserved

 

Candidates file for city, school elections

 

As the May 10 Mission City Council and Mission Consoli­dated Independent School Dis­trict (MCISD) elections near candidates, both incumbents and challengers, have lined up.

Place two and four on the Mission City Council are up for election this year with incum­bent Ruben Plata of First National Bank squaring off against a familiar opponent in Armando O’Cana, former coun­cilman. Plata was elected last year to fill the unexpired term of long-time council member Gen Long who had resigned.

Place four pits incumbent Leonel "Leo" Olivarez, cur­rently serving as Mayor Pro Tem, against Ruben Sanchez, who was defeated last October in his first bid for the council.

Two places are up for elec­tion on the MCISD board as well.

Place four incumbent Danny Carrera, businessman and for­mer educator is being chal­lenged by attorney Patricia O’Cana-Olivarez and place five incumbent Dan Gerlach is in a race against Patty Bazaldua and J.D. Villarreal, a former board member who was defeated.

The Sharyland Independent School District school board also has two places up for elec­tion.

Long-time board member and current president of the Sharyland school board Paul R. Rodriguez is stepping down after over nine years of service to the district.

Current board member Juan F. Zuniga, city manager for Rio Grande City, announced last week that he is running for re-election. Also running are Mario Lizcano and Ricky Longoria. Since two places are up for election, Shary­land voters will be able to cast two votes with the highest vote-getters winning the two open seats.