By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Among the local contests in Tuesday’s Republican Party Primary Election, there was a clear winner in the race for Constable Precinct 3.
No outright winner emerged in the race for County Commissioner Precinct 3 from among four candidates.
Val Verde Sheriff’s Office Deputy Michael Wancho posted a decisive victory in the Constable Precinct 3 race. No Democratic Party candidate filed for the Constable Precinct 3 seat, so Wancho will likely run unopposed in the November General Election.
Wancho bested his opponent, retired Customs officer Donald Fernandez, by 250 votes.
According to unofficial vote totals announced by County Clerk Teresa Esther Chapoy Tuesday night, Wancho had a total of 951 votes, and Fernandez had a total of 701 votes.
The vote tallies won’t be official until they are canvassed by county commissioners court. Chapoy said Tuesday some mail-in ballots are still outstanding.
Wancho waited for election results outside the county courthouse Tuesday night, along with other local candidates and their supporters, but he left before the unofficial results of the election were announced about 10 p.m. Tuesday.
The 830 Times reached Wancho by phone after the election results were announced, and he texted the following message:
“I can’t express how grateful I am to all my family, friends and most importantly to the constituents of Precinct 3 for their support through this rough journey! It has not been easy, but I definitely could not have done it without all of you.
“I want to acknowledge my opponent for running a clean race.
“The real work starts January 1, 2025!! Michael Wancho, Constable Precinct 3!
“Thank you to my treasurer B’Ann Vaughan! It’s been rough, but we finally did it! Thank you! I Wancho Vote!! And we got it!! Thank you so much!”
As Wancho noted, his journey to become the new Constable Precinct 3 hasn’t been smooth.
Wancho challenged the last elected Constable Pct. 3, Steve Berg, four years ago, but lost the election by a handful of votes.
When Berg died while in office, County Commissioner Pct. 3 Beau Nettleton proffered Wancho as his choice to serve out Berg’s term, but a majority of county commissioners court overrode Nettleton’s choice and instead appointed Fernandez, a retired Customs officer, to the seat.
No clear victor emerged in the race for County Commissioner Precinct 3 from among four candidates: Miguel Zuniga, Eddie Amezcua Jr., Raul J. Alatorre and Fernando Garcia.
Amezcua and Garcia were the two top vote-getters in the contest, and they will head to a runoff election on May 28. Amezcua had a total of 650 votes, and Garcia had a total of 596 votes.
Alatorre drew 239 votes in the contest and Zuniga had a total of 182 votes.
No Democrat filed for the County Commissioner Pct. 3 post, so the winner of the runoff will likely run unopposed in November.
A number of other Republicans seeking district and county offices were unopposed in the primary election, though several will face Democratic Party opponents in November.
Those candidates and their unofficial vote totals are as follows:
- District Judge, 63rd Judicial District: Roland Andrade (Incumbent), 2,357 votes.
- District Attorney, 63rd Judicial District: Suzanne West (Incumbent), 2,454 votes.
- County Attorney: Jacques De La Mota, 1,966 votes.
- Sheriff: Rogelio “Roger” Hernandez, 2,047 votes.
- County Tax Assessor Collector: Maricar Ortega Chattler, 1,995 votes.
- County Commissioner Precinct 1: Alfinio “Al” Flores, 298 votes.
Reach the writer at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
