By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
A recount of votes cast in the Democratic Party Primary Election for County Commissioner Pct. 1 has resulted in the same official totals as those previously reported.
The manual recount, requested by County Commissioner Pct. 1 candidate Sergio Diaz, was carried out Wednesday in the old county court-at-law courtroom.
Official canvassed results from the primary election showed Diaz in third place among seven candidates vying for the Democratic Party nomination for the county commissioner seat.
Kerr Wardlaw, a local rancher, businessman and the son of the incumbent commissioner for that precinct, garnered the most votes in the race, though not enough votes to win the nomination outright. Wardlaw will face the second-highest vote getter in the contest, small business owner and retired lawman Enrique R. Treviño, in a runoff election on May 28.
But only four votes separated Treviño and Diaz, and after the results of the election were canvassed and deemed official, Diaz formally requested a manual recount of all the votes cast for him.
Among those present for the recount on Wednesday were Diaz, his wife Reyna Diaz and former Val Verde County Clerk Generosa “Janie” Ramon, who served as a poll watcher for Diaz; County Clerk Teresa Esther Chapoy and members of her staff, including the head of her elections division, Melissa Infante; and Val Verde County Democratic Party Chair Rose Hernandez.
The recount began about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday and was completed at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Afterward, Diaz spoke with the 830 Times about the process.
“I’m very satisfied, very satisfied. This is what I expected. I didn’t expect the numbers to change, but it was my right to ask for a recount, which we did, being that I was down four votes, and I believe the system was proven today. It was proven that the system works,” Diaz said.
Diaz voiced concerns about the election process during a county commissioners court meeting last week, but said Wednesday many of those concerns were resolved during the recount process.
“They were resolved. We did have some little bumps here and there, but (County Attorney) David Martinez got involved, and everything got a lot smoother,” Diaz said.
He also acknowledged he brought Ramon along as a poll watcher for
the recount.
“I haven’t run for anything, and I felt like I needed some guidance, and I know she’s a guru at this, and she guided me through the process, and she was my go-to when I had questions, but everybody involved did a really good job, I believe,” Diaz said.
Diaz admitted he was disappointed in the results of the election, noting that he and his team had “worked very, very hard.”
“There is some disappointment, because you put money and time into it, but at the end of the day, I’m glad that it’s over, and now Mr. Treviño and Mr. Wardlaw can go at it, and I’m just wanting for people to come out and vote,” Diaz said.
Asked if he planned to endorse either Wardlaw or Treviño, Diaz said, “I’m still thinking about it, but yes.”
Diaz said he believes the recount will cost him a total of about $1,500, but added he had to present a $200 check with his request for the recount, which will be deducted from his total bill.
“My thing was this: I wanted to open the doors for other candidates to take that step and run, candidates who will get people out to vote, because that’s the main thing, getting people out to vote. The system does work, and it was proven today, and I’m happy about it,” Diaz said.
Chapoy, asked for a comment about the recount, texted the following reply:
“I totally understand a candidate being concerned in such a close race. The recount was a first for me, and I always try to look on ‘the bright side.’ I learned a lot. No one comes into the county clerk’s office knowing everything. I have been in office 15 months, and I feel that I’ve put together a great team,” she said.
“My Chief Deputy Maria Fuentes and Assistant Chief Deputy Melissa Infante, who spearheads elections, keep the team on track. They bring decades of experience to my department, and I rely greatly on them.
“I am very proud of Ruby Nieto, my election clerk deputy, and Crystal Cedillo in probate, Blanca González in criminal and Martha Jiménez in civil. Norma Rangel, Miguel Lozano, Mary Ellen Aguirre and Berta Robles run the deed records, marriage licenses, etc. I am very proud of my team, and I give my elections section, headed up by Melissa Infante, all the credit due for a successful election,” Chapoy said.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com.
