Quick Race Rundown for Democratic Primary

Let me preface this by saying that I don't take anyone seriously that jumps into a race at the last minute. That means it was just an impulse decision and not someone I take seriously. Let me add this caveat, if you've made it known you're running and just waited for whatever reason to actually file the paperwork, that is obviously a different scenario.

Lets start with the judicial races, specifically the criminal courts.

346th District Court is a criminal court and features Judge Ruben Nuñez who is a magistrate judge facing Paty Baca.

Criminal District Court #1 is another criminal court and that race features incumbent Judge Diane Navarette facing Octavio Dominguez. He wasn't just a last day filing, the vato filed within the last hour of the filing period.

The 448th District Court is mostly a civil court and incumbent Judge Sergio Enriguez is being challenged by Abe Gonzalez.

There are two family courts that are competitive in this cycle. The 383rd District Court is an open seat because incumbent Judge Mike Herrera retired. Lyda Ness Garcia will be facing Lucila Flores and Patrick Bramlett. Garcia has run for policy positions previously but this is the first time she runs for a judicial seat. Lucila Flores previously ran for the 388th and lost to Judge Laura Strathmann. Patrick Bramlett is an attorney who does a mix of family and criminal law.

In the aforementioned 388th District Court incumbent Judge Laura Strathmann has drawn two opponents - Marlene Gonzalez and Rick Rios. Strathmann won her seat a couple of terms ago in a crowded field of candidates and was able to defeat her opponent, a Latina, in a run-off election.

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State Legislature Races

None of the state legislators drew an opponent in the primary, which they all enjoy very much. The open seat for District 76 is going to be between Mayor Pro-Temp Claudia Ordaz Perez and Office Scheduler Elisa Tamayo. I was at Democratic Party Headquarters expecting Norma Chavez to come sliding in telling everyone its yet another edition of the "New Norma" and run for her old seat back.

I swear there are more New Normas than iOS updates.

Anywho I lost a bet on that one.

The seat is being vacated by Cesar Blanco who is now pursuing the Senate seat. Blanco is unopposed.

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District Attorney's Race 

The DA Race features one prosecutor, James Montoya, against three defense lawyers - Yvonne Rosales, Karen Dykes, and Roger Montoya.

A lot of people act like I'm some gangsta thug but I've never shot a tree after a road rage incident with a city bus. But hey, maybe the tree was smack talking and Roger finally had it with that smart-mouthed tree.

But only one has an album out available on iTunes.

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County Commissioner's Court

There are four candidates running against incumbent Commissioner Vince Perez. The Mayor of Socorro Elia Garcia, Iliana Holguin, and Eduardo Romero.

Garcia is mayor of the second-largest municipality in the County of El Paso and an attorney. She's been a former municipal judge in Socorro. Iliana Holguin is currently Chair of the El Paso County Democratic Party, which is experiencing a lot of controversy and conflict now due to questions about money and her husband Eddie Holguin was recently ousted as Chair of the Tejano Democrats. Eduardo Romero is a young man who just lost a school board race to Sotero Ramirez in YISD. Ramirez was considered vulnerable but pulled out the election in which around 300 people voted.

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County Sheriff's Race

Incumbent Sheriff Richard Wiles is being opposed by former EP Police union boss Ron Martin, retired law enforcement professional Raul Mendiola, and a Canutillo ISD School Officer Carlos Carrillo.

Wiles initially won his seat after facing 7 other opponents, including the mother of the current chair of the El Paso County Democratic Party and a former El Paso police chief, following the passing of Sheriff Leo Samaniego.

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Tax Assessor Collector

Yawn.

Incumbent Tax Assessor Collector Ruben Gonzalez versus former employee of the TACO (Tax Assessor Collector's Office, see what I did there?), Ivan Nino.

I find the fact that I just christened the office TACO far more interesting than the outcome of this race. Sorry, both candidates seem like really nice guys.

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Constables

Precinct 2 Constable Jeremiah Haggerty is being challenged by Danny Zamora. What is interesting about this race - other than his brother is the Justice of the Peace - is that it is a big test for the Haggerty family. They used to be an institution in this town. At least 6 different members of Clan Haggerty have served as elected officials in town. That is even more than the Gandara family.

Pat is retired and Dan passed away. That left 4 in office and half of them lost their office within a year and a half of one another, so people in the Northeast may be smelling political blood in the water.

But, if there is a race that a family name can carry, its a down-ballot constable race.

Precinct 4 features two Louies facing Miguel Rico. Louie Aguilar is the incumbent Constable and Louie Aguilar is the other opponent. That is going to be a run-off for sure.

Constable Angie Sommers someone survived without getting an opponent. I would've helped an opponent for free in that race.