WILLACY COUNTY JUDGE ELECT - John Gonzales, Jr. Pictured is our new county judge, John Gonzales, Jr., who will take office on January 1, 2011. Gonzales survived a tough race against four other candidates, winning a runoff race Tuesday against acting judge Aurelio "Keter Guerra. Gonzales believes he knocked on every door in Willacy County during his campaign over the past six months. John is pictured with his wife, Janie Moreno Gonzales, son, Juan F. Gonzales III and daughter, Selissa. Gonzales is a graduate of Raymondville High School and is a banker and financial advisor. Newcomer John Gonzales won a runoff election over acting County Judge Aurelio "Keter" Guerra, Jr., handily, Tuesday.

Gonzales had 1,432 votes to his opponent's 1,231 votes, a healthy margin of 201 votes, or 53.77% to 46.23%.

Gonzales will take office in January, 2011 and Guerra, the former Pct. 4 County Commissioner is expected to continue to serve until that time.

It was a strange election to say the least.

One that began on March 2 when Guerra was the front runner in a contest that featured five candidates. In the primary Guerra got 23.82% of the vote (796) to 21.30% (712) for Gonzales.

Meanwhile third place fin- isher, Annette C. Hinojosa had 22.14% (707) votes. She asked for a recount, which gave her 3 more votes or a total of 710 and Guerra picked up 6 votes to finish with 802.

So if Hinojosa had landed 3 more votes in the recount she would have faced Guerra rather than the eventual winner-- John Gonzales.

The other factor in this race that cannot be ignored is the role that former county attorney Juan Guerra played in his brother's loss at the polls.

Juan Guerra is the most controversial politician in county political history and his reputation was surely a drag on his brother's candidacy. IN

THE OTHER TWO RACES DECIDED TUESDAY:

Dora Perez became the first woman in county history to be elected to a County Commissioners post when she beat Oscar Garcia, Jr., in the runoff by 116 votes in Pct. 4 at Sebastian (447 to 331)

And in the Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace race Yesenia Rosas beat Apolinar "Polo" Gracida, Jr. by 21 votes, 259 to 238.

In the runoff election 2,679 votes were cast, (25.21%) of the 10,626 registered county voters.

In the March 2 primary election 3,483 voters turned out (31.59%) of the then 11, 026 county registered voters.

Question: How did this county lose 400 registered voters in six weeks?