Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Filing for county offices up for election in 2024 began Nov. 11, and so far, eight Democrats and four Republicans have submitted applications for places on the ballot.
The deadline to file for places on the March 2024 Democratic Party Primary ballot and for the March 2024 Republican Party Primary ballot is Dec. 14.
Two offices up for election next year have already drawn multiple candidates: the County Commissioner Pct. 1 and County Commissioner Pct. 3 seats.
Both of the incumbents holding those offices, Commissioner Pct. 1 Martin Wardlaw and Commissioner Pct. 3 Beau Nettleton, have announced they will not seek re-election in 2024.
According to Val Verde County Democratic Party Chair Rosalinda Hernandez, four persons have already filed applications for places on the primary ballot seeking the County Commissioner Pct. 1 seat currently held by Wardlaw.
They are Sergio Rodriguez, Enrique R. Trevino, Kerr Wardlaw and Sergio Diaz.
Rodriguez, who was the first to file, is a financial advisor and president of the Escondido Estates Residents Association.
Trevino is a retired law enforcement officer, formerly with the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Wardlaw is the son of the incumbent, Martin Wardlaw, and currently works as a general manager and as a rancher.
Diaz is a realtor and a local radio personality.
Any Democratic Party candidates who file for the Commissioner Pct. 1 seat will have to face each other in the March 2024 Democratic Party Primary Election to become the party’s nominee for the seat. That nominee will then face the Republican Party nominee for the position in the November 2024 General Election.
Among the other candidates who have filed for places on the Democratic Party Primary Election ballot for March 2024 is Joe Frank Martinez, the incumbent Val Verde County Sheriff, who has filed for re-election to the post he has held since 2009.
Gerardo “Jerry” Hernandez, the incumbent Constable Pct. 4; Dionicio “Nicho” Trevino III, the incumbent Constable Pct. 1; and Daniel Reyes Jr., the incumbent Constable Pct. 2; have all filed for re-election to the posts they currently hold.
Val Verde County Republican Party Chair Sharon Petitt said only one candidate has filed for a place on the Republican Party primary ballot for County Commissioner Pct. 1.
Alfinio “Al” Flores, the owner of a local business, has filed for Republican Party ballot, seeking to become the party’s nominee for County Commissioner Pct. 1.
Three other candidates have also filed for places on the March 2024 Republican Party Primary Election ballot, Petitt said.
Raul J. Alatorre, a general contractor, has filed an application seeking the Republican Party nomination as County Commissioner Pct. 3.
Also seeking the Republican Party nomination for the County Commissioner Pct. 3 seat is Fernando Garcia, a local real estate appraiser.
The fourth Republican to file for a place on the primary ballot is Rogelio “Roger” Hernandez, a police officer, who is seeking the County Sheriff seat.
The writer can be reached at DelRioMagnoliaFan@gmail.com .
