2017 El Paso, Texas city elections

The first round 2017 El Paso city elections was on May 6, 2017 to elect the Mayor and City Council of El Paso, Texas. 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]

El Paso mayoral election, 2017
May 6, 2017 (2017-05-06)
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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]

Mayoral election
El Paso mayoral election, 2017
May 6, 2017 (2017-05-06) (first round)
June 10, 2017 (2017-06-10) (runoff)
Turnout7.86% (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%
Mayor before election

Oscar Leeser
Democratic

 Elected Mayor

Dee Margo
Republican

Candidates
  • 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]
  • 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
  • Estela Casas, KVIA news anchor[21]
  • Oscar Leeser, incumbent mayor[22]
  • Cortney Niland, city council representative (2011–2017)[23]
  • Emma Schwartz, president and CEO of the Medical Center of the Americas Foundation[24]
  • Joe Wardy, former mayor of El Paso (2003-2005)[25]

First round results
El Paso mayoral election results, 2017
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Dee Margo 14,915 45.32%
Nonpartisan David Saucedo 7,883 23.95%
Nonpartisan Emma Acosta 5,239 15.92%
Nonpartisan Elisa Morales 1,845 5.61%
Nonpartisan Willie Cager 1,388 4.22%
Nonpartisan Jaime Perez 950 2.89%
Nonpartisan Charlie Stapler 412 1.25%
Nonpartisan Jorge Artalejo 280 0.85%
Total votes 32,912 100

Runoff results
El Paso mayoral election results, 2017
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Dee Margo 17,148 57
Nonpartisan David Saucedo 12,937 43
Total votes 30,085 100

City council election
Candidates
  • Alexsandra Annello, student[26][17]
  • Dolores Baca, writer and housewife[27][17]
  • Jud Burgess, artist and activist[28]
  • Alexander Burnside, veteran and Bernie Sanders activist[29][17]
  • Jim Tolbert, city council representative (2016–2017)[30]
  • Raul Valdez, UTEP teaching assistant[31][17]
First round results
El Paso District 2 election results, 2017
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Alexsandra Annello 1,135 34.96%
Nonpartisan Jim Tolbert 1,037 31.94%
Nonpartisan Dolores Garcia Baca 440 13.55%
Nonpartisan Jud Burgess 446 13.74%
Nonpartisan Raul Scoop Valdez 111 3.42%
Nonpartisan Alexander Burnside 78 2.40%
Total votes 3,247 100
Runoff results
El Paso District 2 election results, 2017
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Alexsandra Annello 1,929 60.83
Nonpartisan Jim Tolbert 1,242 39.17
Total votes 3,171 100
Candidates
  • 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[30]
  • Cassandra Hernandez-Brown, deputy director of Dynamic Workforce Solutions[32]
  • Louis Pellicano, retired person[33][17]
  • Antonio Williams, private practice immigration attorney, and State Democratic Executive Committeeman for Texas Senate District 29 [30]
Results
El Paso District 3 election results, 2017
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Cassandra Hernandez 1,925 37.80%
Nonpartisan Jaime Barceleau 1,514 29.73%
Nonpartisan Antonio Williams 819 16.08%
Nonpartisan Elias Camacho 600 11.78%
Nonpartisan Louis Pellicano 235 4.61%
Total votes 5,093 100
Runoff results
El Paso District 3 election results, 2017
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Cassandra Hernandez 2,711 59.26
Nonpartisan Jaime Barceleau 1,864 40.74
Total votes 4,575 100
Candidates
  • Shane Haggerty, retired firefighter and Ysleta Independent School District Board of Trustees president[30]
  • Sam Morgan, owner of El Paso Concealed Carry[18]
  • Jose Plasencia, Green Party activist, chess teacher [34][35][36][17]
  • Diana Ramos, Socorro Independent School District instructional aide and former employee of Congressman Beto O'Rourke[30]
Results
El Paso District 4 election results, 2017
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Sam Morgan 1,969 41.57%
Nonpartisan Shane Haggerty 1,711 36.12%
Nonpartisan Diana Ramos 960 20.27%
Nonpartisan Jose Plasencia 97 2.05%
Total votes 4,737 100
Runoff results
El Paso District 4 election results, 2017
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Sam Morgan 2,555 54.10
Nonpartisan Shane Haggerty 2,168 45.90
Total votes 4,723 100
Candidates
  • Lily Limon, city council representative (2013–2017)[30]
  • Henry Rivera, police officer[17]
Results
El Paso District 7 election results, 2017
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Henry Rivera 2,797 62.39
Nonpartisan Lily Limon 1,686 37.61
Total votes 4,483 100
Candidates
  • Trini Acevedo, health unit coordinator at University Medical Center[37][38]
  • Robert Cormell, businessman[39]
  • Gilbert Guillen, retired businessman and anti-arena activist[8]
  • Cissy Lizarraga, retired teacher[39]
  • Adolfo Lopez, attorney[39]
Results
El Paso District 8 election results, 2017
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Robert Cormell 1,724 42.25
Nonpartisan Cissy Lizarraga 1,030 25.25
Nonpartisan Gilbert Guillen 637 15.61
Nonpartisan Adolfo Lopez 538 13.19
Nonpartisan Trini Acevedo 151 3.70
Total votes 100
Runoff results
El Paso District 8 election results, 2017
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Cissy Lizarraga 1,833 55.38
Nonpartisan Robert Cormell 1,477 44.62
Total votes 3,310 100

References
  1. "Mayor Leeser will not seek reelection". KVIA. July 28, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  2. Crowder, David (August 1, 2016). "If Leeser's not running, who should?". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  3. "Partisan vs. Nonpartisan Elections". National League of Cities. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  4. "City Charter changes possible". El Paso Times. January 13, 2013. Archived from the original on July 2, 2013. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  5. http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/politics/elections/2017/05/06/mayoral-candidate-margo-takes-lead-early-voting/101338218/
  6. http://www.kvia.com/news/el-paso/breaking-dee-margo-elected-mayor-of-el-paso-saucedo-concedes-race/535235654
  7. http://elchuqueno.com/what-8-57-means/
  8. Crowder, David (April 10, 2017). "City to hold June election for Niland seat". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  9. "El Paso County Elections". County of El Paso. June 23, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  10. http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/politics/elections/2017/07/16/cormell-has-slight-lead-city-council-district-8-early-vote/482277001/
  11. "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.
  12. "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.
  13. Crowder, David (October 3, 2016). "Lucky No. 7? Acosta to run for mayor". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  14. "Mayor, city rep races attract 30". El Paso Inc. February 20, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  15. Crowder, David (August 4, 2016). "First hat in the ring: Margo will run for mayor". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  16. "About – Elisa Morales for El Paso Mayor". Elisa Morales for El Paso Mayor. April 24, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  17. Borunda, Daniel (February 17, 2017). "El Paso mayoral race to feature 7 candidates". El Paso Times. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  18. Perez, Elida S. (August 29, 2016). "2 more El Paso mayoral candidates announce". El Paso Times. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  19. Seyffert, Estefania (December 19, 2016). "Boys & Girls Club of El Paso facing financial crisis - Story". KTSM. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  20. Crowder, David (September 20, 2016). "Retired postal worker joins race for mayor". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  21. Crowder, David (August 29, 2016). "So who else is running? Not Estela Casas". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  22. "Mayor Leeser will not seek reelection". KVIA. July 28, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  23. Crowder, David (January 16, 2017). "Ready for the next election? Mayor's race is May 6". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  24. Wadsworth, Ford (September 19, 2016). "Whispers: No, she isn't". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  25. Wadsworth, Ford (September 12, 2016). "Whispers: It's a boy!". El Paso Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  26. https://www.elpasotexas.gov/~/media/files/coep/municipal%20clerk/elections/2017-05-06/annello%20alexsandra%20%20app.ashx?la=en
  27. https://www.elpasotexas.gov/~/media/files/coep/municipal%20clerk/elections/2017-05-06/baca%20dolores%20%20app.ashx?la=en
  28. Perez, Elida S. (January 18, 2017). "Ethics panel criticizes city attorney's delays". El Paso Times. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  29. Cullinane, Ashley (May 22, 2016). "Vado residents: Sanders rally biggest event since 'we got a car wash'". KFOX. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  30. Perez, Elida S. "Candidates for May 2017 city election growing". El Paso Times. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  31. http://www.elpasotexas.gov/~/media/files/coep/municipal%20clerk/elections/2017-05-06/valdez%20raul%20%20app.ashx?la=en
  32. http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/politics/2016/09/12/2nd-council-candidate-plans-run-district-3/90285758/
  33. https://www.elpasotexas.gov/~/media/files/coep/municipal%20clerk/elections/2017-05-06/pellicano%20louis%20%20app.ashx?la=en
  34. https://www.facebook.com/JoseForElPaso/
  35. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 3, 2017. Retrieved March 2, 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  36. https://www.elpasotexas.gov/~/media/files/coep/municipal%20clerk/elections/2017-05-06/plasencia%20jose%20m.ashx?la=en
  37. http://thelionstarblog.blogspot.com/2017/05/d8-candidates.html
  38. http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/opinion/columnists/2016/08/21/acevedo-employees-can-help-shape-umc-improvements/89085118/
  39. "Four people have filed for District 8 seat". KTSM. April 19, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
Campaign websites
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