2017 El Paso, Texas, city elections
El Paso, Texas , held a first round of general elections on May 6, 2017, to elect the mayor and city council. The run-off election was June 10, 2017. Incumbent Mayor Oscar Leeser was eligible for another term, but announced in July 2016 he would not seek another term. Leeser had a cancer-related surgery in 2016, but stated that his decision was not because of his health. Instead, it was because he "ran to do things I thought were really important for our community and I did that."[ 1] [ 2]
The election was non-partisan; therefore there was no primary election. However, if no candidate won a majority there will be a run-off election.[ 3]
The mayor and council members elected in 2017 will serve through December 2020. The term is shortened because of a charter amendment to move city elections from May in odd-numbered years to November in even-numbered years.[ 4]
Dee Margo took first place in the mayoral race but did not win a majority of votes, so he and David Saucedo competed in a runoff election.[ 5] Margo defeated Saucedo in the run-off election.[ 6] 8.57% of registered voters voted in the run-off election, one of the lowest turnouts in the city's history.[ 7]
Districts 2, 3, 4, 7, and 8 had elections in 2017. District 2 incumbent, Jim Tolbert, and District 7 incumbent, Lilia Limon, were eligible for re-election, but were defeated by Alexansandra Annello and Henry Rivera, respectively. Emma Acosta, District 3 incumbent, and Carl Robinson, District 4 incumbent, were term limited and could not run again; they were succeeded by Cassandra Hernandez and Sam Morgan, respectively. District 8 representative Cortney Niland, whose term was supposed to end in December 2018, resigned in April 2017. The city scheduled a June special election and July runoff election to fill the remainder of her term. The runoff election was won by Cissy Lizarraga.[ 8] [ 9] [ 10]
El Paso mayoral election, 2017 Turnout 7.86% (first round)[ 11] 8.26% (runoff)[ 12]
Candidate
Dee Margo
David Saucedo
Emma Acosta
Party
Nonpartisan
Nonpartisan
Nonpartisan
First round vote
14,915
7,883
5,239
First round percentage
45.32%
23.95%
15.92%
Runoff vote
17,148
12,937
Runoff percentage
57%
43%
Candidate
Elisa Morales
Party
Nonpartisan
First round vote
1,845
First round percentage
5.61%
Emma Acosta (2008–present), city council representative[ 13]
Jorge Artalejo, perennial candidate[ 13]
Willie Cager , YISD basketball coach, director of the Willy Cager Foundation, and member of the 1966 UTEP Basketball team[ 14]
Dee Margo , former Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives[ 15]
Elisa Morales, health science researcher, medical device salesperson, Health Graduate Fellow for Congressman Beto O'Rourke and Senator Lamar Alexander , and legislative aide to Senator Tom Udall [ 16] [unreliable source? ]
Jaime Perez, perennial candidate[ 17]
David Saucedo, owner of Saucedo Lock Company[ 18] and former president of the board of direct of the Boys & Girls Club of El Paso[ 19]
Charles Stapler, member of the El Paso County Historical Commission board[ 20]
Declined candidates [ edit ]
Estela Casas , KVIA news anchor[ 21]
Oscar Leeser , incumbent mayor[ 1]
Cortney Niland, city council representative (2011–2017)[ 22]
Emma Schwartz, president and CEO of the Medical Center of the Americas Foundation[ 23]
Joe Wardy , former mayor of El Paso (2003-2005)[ 24]
First round results [ edit ]
City council election [ edit ]
Alexsandra Annello, student[ 25] [ 17]
Dolores Baca, writer and housewife[ 26] [ 17]
Jud Burgess, artist and activist[ 27]
Alexander Burnside, veteran and Bernie Sanders activist[ 28] [ 17]
Jim Tolbert, city council representative (2016–2017)[ 29]
Raul Valdez, UTEP teaching assistant[ 30] [ 17]
First round results [ edit ]
Jaime Barceleau, charitable executive director for the Paso del Norte Children's Development Center[ 18]
Elias Camacho, Vietnam War veteran, retired El Paso Police Department detective, private investigator, and substitute teacher[ 29]
Cassandra Hernandez-Brown, deputy director of Dynamic Workforce Solutions[ 31]
Louis Pellicano, retired person[ 32] [ 17]
Antonio Williams, private practice immigration attorney, and State Democratic Executive Committeeman for Texas Senate District 29 [ 29]
Shane Haggerty, retired firefighter and Ysleta Independent School District Board of Trustees president[ 29]
Sam Morgan, owner of El Paso Concealed Carry[ 18]
Jose Plasencia, Green Party activist, chess teacher [ 33] [ 34] [ 35] [ 17]
Diana Ramos, Socorro Independent School District instructional aide and former employee of Congressman Beto O'Rourke [ 29]
Lily Limon, city council representative (2013–2017)[ 29]
Henry Rivera, police officer[ 17]
Trini Acevedo, health unit coordinator at University Medical Center[ 36] [ 37]
Robert Cormell, businessman[ 38]
Gilbert Guillen, retired businessman and anti-arena activist[ 8]
Cissy Lizarraga, retired teacher[ 38]
Adolfo Lopez, attorney[ 38]
^ a b "Mayor Leeser will not seek reelection" . KVIA . July 28, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2017 .
^ Crowder, David (August 1, 2016). "If Leeser's not running, who should?" . El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017 .
^ "Partisan vs. Nonpartisan Elections" . National League of Cities . Retrieved May 1, 2017 .
^ "City Charter changes possible" . El Paso Times . January 13, 2013. Archived from the original on July 2, 2013. Retrieved January 3, 2015 .
^ "Margo and Saucedo head to runoff for mayoral seat" .
^ "Dee Margo elected mayor of El Paso - KVIA" . www.kvia.com . Archived from the original on June 11, 2017.
^ "What 8.57% Means" . June 12, 2017.
^ a b Crowder, David (April 10, 2017). "City to hold June election for Niland seat" . El Paso Inc . Retrieved May 1, 2017 .
^ "El Paso County Elections" . County of El Paso. June 23, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013 .
^ "Lizarraga takes City Council District 8 runoff by more than 300 votes" .
^ "Election Summary Report 2017 MAY UNIFORM ELECTION Summary For Jurisdiction Wide, All Counters, All Races OFFICIAL FINAL ELECTION RESULTS" (PDF) . El Paso County. May 22, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2019 .
^ "Election Summary Report 2017 JUNE UNIFORM RUNOFF AND SPECIAL ELECTION OFFICIAL FINAL ELECTION RESULTS" (PDF) . El Paso County. June 28, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2019 .
^ a b Crowder, David (October 3, 2016). "Lucky No. 7? Acosta to run for mayor" . El Paso Inc . Retrieved May 1, 2017 .
^ "Mayor, city rep races attract 30" . El Paso Inc . February 20, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017 .
^ Crowder, David (August 4, 2016). "First hat in the ring: Margo will run for mayor" . El Paso Inc . Retrieved May 1, 2017 .
^ "About – Elisa Morales for El Paso Mayor" . Elisa Morales for El Paso Mayor. April 24, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017 .
^ a b c d e f g h Borunda, Daniel (February 17, 2017). "El Paso mayoral race to feature 7 candidates" . El Paso Times . Retrieved May 1, 2017 .
^ a b c Perez, Elida S. (August 29, 2016). "2 more El Paso mayoral candidates announce" . El Paso Times . Retrieved May 1, 2017 .
^ Seyffert, Estefania (December 19, 2016). "Boys & Girls Club of El Paso facing financial crisis - Story" . KTSM . Retrieved May 1, 2017 .
^ Crowder, David (September 20, 2016). "Retired postal worker joins race for mayor" . El Paso Inc . Retrieved May 1, 2017 .
^ Crowder, David (August 29, 2016). "So who else is running? Not Estela Casas" . El Paso Inc . Retrieved May 1, 2017 .
^ Crowder, David (January 16, 2017). "Ready for the next election? Mayor's race is May 6" . El Paso Inc . Retrieved May 1, 2017 .
^ Wadsworth, Ford (September 19, 2016). "Whispers: No, she isn't" . El Paso Inc . Retrieved May 1, 2017 .
^ Wadsworth, Ford (September 12, 2016). "Whispers: It's a boy!" . El Paso Inc . Retrieved May 1, 2017 .
^ "Archived copy" . Archived from the original on February 18, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2017 .{{cite web }}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link )
^ "Archived copy" . Archived from the original on February 18, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2017 .{{cite web }}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link )
^ Perez, Elida S. (January 18, 2017). "Ethics panel criticizes city attorney's delays" . El Paso Times . Retrieved May 1, 2017 .
^ Cullinane, Ashley (May 22, 2016). "Vado residents: Sanders rally biggest event since 'we got a car wash' " . KFOX . Retrieved May 1, 2017 .
^ a b c d e f Perez, Elida S. "Candidates for May 2017 city election growing" . El Paso Times . Retrieved May 1, 2017 .
^ "Archived copy" . Archived from the original on February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2017 .{{cite web }}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link )
^ "2nd council candidate plans run for District 3" .
^ "Archived copy" . Archived from the original on February 18, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2017 .{{cite web }}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link )
^ https://www.facebook.com/JoseForElPaso/ [user-generated source ]
^ "Candidates – El Paso Green Party" . Archived from the original on March 3, 2017. Retrieved March 2, 2017 .
^ "Archived copy" . Archived from the original on February 5, 2017. Retrieved February 5, 2017 .{{cite web }}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link )
^ "The Lion Star Blog by Jaime Abeytia: D8: The Candidates" . May 18, 2017.
^ "Acevedo: Employees can help shape UMC improvements" .
^ a b c "Four people have filed for District 8 seat" . KTSM. April 19, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017 .
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