Early voting starts Monday in Palmhurst special election

Palmhurst will start the process of picking a new mayor next week.

Monday marks the start of early voting in Palmhurst, where four candidates are vying to replace former Mayor Ramiro J. Rodriguez Jr.

“We’ve never had this type of election, with so many candidates running for the same spot,” said City Councilman Robert A. Salinas.

Rodriguez died in April during the middle of his re-election campaign. He remained on the ballot — and won.

Some people voted for Rodriguez to honor the longtime mayor, who served Palmhurst for more than 20 years.

Others didn’t want his opponent, City Councilman Israel Silva, to win by default. They knew that if Rodriguez won, Palmhurst would be forced to hold another election.

Four candidates will appear on the ballot:

> Former City Councilman Israel Silva, 51, the owner of Texas Health Care Imaging.

> Former Sharyland school board Trustee Eduardo “Eddie” Montalvo, 57, a business analyst with UnitedHealth Group.

> Attorney Ricka Tijerina, 27, who graduated from the University of Houston and works for Hinojosa Law.

> Businessman Fred del Barrio, 56, who owns 12 McDonald’s restaurants and serves on the Palmhurst Planning and Zoning Commission.

Early voting starts July 25 and ends Aug. 5. Election day is Aug. 10.

Voting will take place at Rafael Cantu Jr. High School, 5101 N. Stewart Road.