Primary election recap

The dust is finally settling and the picture for November's general elections is a little clearer at the county and state level after the 2010 primary elections March 2.

 

Governor

The match up for the gubernatorial race is set for Nov. 2. with Republican Gov. Richard Perry facing the former Houston Mayor Bill White.

Perry outflanked both Debra Medina and Kay Bailey Hutchison for the Republican nomination. The incumbent handily took 57 percent of the vote in the 173 precincts in the county according to the results posted on the El Paso County Web site.

White beat out six other opponents in the primary, including businessman Farouk Shami, to win the democratic nomination. White received nearly 59 percent of the vote in 173 precincts. Shami followed with about 29 percent.

White will try to retrieve the gubernatorial position back from the republicans, which have led the state for 15 years.

State Sen., District 29

In the Democratic primary, Jose Rodriguez, former county attorney, was victorious in the three-headed race. Rodriguez acquired nearly 70 percent of the votes, leading YISD board trustee Liza Montelongo by 50 percent and former UTEP professor Louis Irwin by 60 percent.

Rodriguez will run against Republican Dan Chavez for State Sen. Eliot Shapleigh's seat in the state legislature.

In October, Shapleigh announced he would not be seeking re-election. Shapleigh has represented District No. 29 since 1997.

 

State Rep., District 78

The third-time was the charm for Republican veteran Dee Margo, CEO and chairman of JDW insurance. Margo received the majority of the vote against his younger opponents Jay Kleberg and Rene Diaz.

Margo, who previously ran unsuccessfully two times for a seat in the delegation, will challenge Democratic incumbent State Rep. Joe Moody. Margo's nearly 52 percent was enough to edge newcomer Kleberg's 44 percent.

 

State Rep., District 76

It was a dogfight until the very end. However, the fight must continue since Naomi Gonzalez was not able to win the majority in the primary.

Instead, Gonzalez forced an April 13 primary runoff bout with incumbent State Rep. Norma Chavez. Chavez has served seven terms as a state representative.

Gonzalez acquired nearly 48 percent of the ballots submitted. Chavez trailed with 46 percent. Since results between Gonzalez and Chavez were so close, a runoff election will be held.

County Judge
 

County Commissioner Veronica Escobar edged lawyer Sergio Coronado, businessman Rick Ledesma and former city representative Larry Medina for the County Judge Democratic nomination. Escobar received nearly 53 percent of the vote.

Escobar will challenge Republican Jaime Perez for the seat in the general election.

 

County Attorney

Jo Anne Bernal received about 55 percent of the vote, enough to defeat Theresa Caballero, a former assistant district attorney. Bernal has worked in the County Attorney's office for the last 16 years.

The county attorney's duty is to represent and provide legal counseling for the county on matters throughout its department and offices.

A Republican candidate will not be challenging Bernal.

 

District Clerk

The six-person race for district clerk will be settled in an April runoff election. Incumbent Gilbert Sanchez holds a small lead of about three percent over county official Norma Favela.

Justin Anthony Monarez may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.