By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Political newcomer Randy Quiñones has won election to the District III seat on the Del Rio City Council, posting a landslide victory over the incumbent, Councilwoman Alexandra Falcon Calderon.
Quiñones, the owner of a home and commercial security systems business, jumped to a commanding lead in the race when Val Verde County Clerk Teresa Esther Chapoy announced the results of early voting.
Chapoy made the announcement from the west side portico of the historic county courthouse at 7:43 p.m. Saturday, less than an hour after the polls had closed at 7 p.m.
A cheer went up from the Quiñones camp when Chapoy announced that Quiñones had posted an unofficial total of 224 early votes, and his opponent, Calderon, the owner of an independent hair salon, had received an unofficial total of 116 early votes.
Calderon, who was also present at the reading of the results, along with a handful of friends and supporters, shortened Quiñones’ lead, but was unable to overcome it, in the final tally of votes.
Returning to the front of the courthouse just before 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Chapoy announced Quiñones had received an unofficial total of 299 votes, including early votes and votes cast on Election Day, and Calderon had received an unofficial total of 162 votes.
The unofficial totals show Quiñones won the election with about 65 percent of the votes cast in the race.
Chapoy said after announcing the unofficial vote totals that there are still 74 mail-in ballots outstanding, but those ballots won’t change the results of the District III race.
“I’m excited, a little emotional, just really happy,” Quiñones said after the results were read.
Quiñones said he attributed his victory to his own hard work “and my really great team,” including his wife and other family members.
The writer ca be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com.
