By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Republican and Democratic Party candidates seeking office this year met with prospective voters and fielded questions earlier this week during a series of candidate forums.
The forums, organized by Southwest Texas College and The 830 Times, were held in the Southwest Texas College Auditorium. Republican Party candidates were featured during Tuesday’s forum, and Democratic Party candidates were featured on Wednesday.
Republican Party candidates who participated in Tuesday’s forum included U.S. Senate candidate Sara Canady and U.S. House District 23
candidate Francisco “Quico” Canseco.
Among the local Republican candidates who joined the forum were Mary Jane Ross, who is running for district clerk; Robert Beau Nettleton, who is running for county judge; Teresa Esther Chapoy and Adriana Acosta, who are running for county clerk; Rey Robles, who is running for county commissioner Pct. 2; John I. Wardlaw, who is running for county commissioner Pct. 4; and Ashly K. Vicuna and Maria “Mari” Acosta, who are running for justice of the peace Pct. 3.
Republican Party candidates who did not participate included Michelle Fagan, Anthony “Tony” Rodriguez, Christian Martinez and Danny Musquiz.
The Democratic Party candidates who participated in Wednesday’s forum included Rachel Magallanes, who is running for district clerk; Lewis G. Owens Jr. and Bruno J. Lozano, who are running for county judge; Juan Carlos Vazquez, who is running for county commissioner Pct. 2; Gustavo “Gus” Flores and Generosa “Janie” Ramon, who are running for county commissioner Pct. 4; Jesse James Trevino, who is running for justice of the peace Pct. 1; Roberto “Bobby” Hernandez, who is running for justice of the peace Pct. 2; Juan Roberto Martinez, who is running for justice of the peace Pct. 3; and Hilda Castillo Lopez, who is running for justice of the peace Pct. 4.
Abril Hernandez, who is running for Val Verde County Democratic Party chair, also participated in Wednesday night’s forum.
Democratic Party candidates who did not participate in the forum included Aaron D. Rodriguez, Rose Castro and Loida S. Arellano.
Joshua Overfelt, a professor at Southwest Texas College and was key in organizing the event, opened both forums by welcoming those attending and thanking the candidates for their participation. He then reviewed the forum’s rules of engagement: candidates were given a set amount of time to introduce themselves, then answered a series of questions, and finally each gave a closing statement.
After each forum concluded, candidates met and mingled with voters attending the forums, and tables were set up outside the auditorium so candidates could share promotional materials.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
