Harlingen school trustee wins fourth term; Place 3 heads to runoff

Eladio Jaimez (Courtesy: Harlingen CISD)

HARLINGEN — After winning his fourth term, school board trustee Eladio Jaimez is planning to work with officials as they try to pull the school district out of its deepest financial crisis in decades.

In the crowded race to fill outgoing board President Greg Powers’ Place 3 seat, Rebekah Batot and Diana Cortez Young are heading for a runoff after Saturday’s election drew the biggest field of candidates in years.

The runoff election is set for June 7, with the early voting period running from May 27 to June 3, officials with the Cameron County Elections Department said.

In the race for the board’s Place 7 seat, Jaimez, a Texas State Technical College provost, pulled 2,049 votes, or 57.9%, to defeat Lorraine De Leon-Galarza, a retired registered nurse, who took 1,485 votes, or 42%.

“It was the ability to connect with people and build meaningful and working relationships that I credit with our success,” Jaimez said in a Facebook post.

During his campaign, Jaimez was called to respond to residents’ concerns months after the district budget’s fund balance plunged during former Superintendent J.A. Gonzalez’s administration.

“The board took a hit this past year and we’ve had to work hard to earn that trust back from our community,” Jaimez said in his post.

In the last eight months, the school board’s worked with Superintendent Veronica Kortan and officials to cut costs while boosting the district’s fund balance from about $17.5 million to $36.7 million.

”I talked to a lot of folks from our community on the campaign trail, and while some instances were easier than others, I was able to connect with many and strengthen and/or mend those relationships,” Jaimez said in his post. “Throughout the day on Saturday, and as results came in, I was very grateful to our community. So to the entire Harlingen-HCISD community, I thank you for your continued confidence in me. I will continue to be humble and work hard for you.”

Greg Powers (Courtesy: Harlingen CISD)

After 15 years in office, Powers announced his “bittersweet” decision against running for a sixth term in January, opening up his Place 3 seat to a four-candidate scramble.

In Saturday’s election, Batot, a hospital administrator, won 1,520 votes, or 42%, locking into a runoff against Cortez Young, a retired school counselor who took 1,387 votes, or 38.3%.

Falling short of the runoff were Laura Longoria, a chief financial officer who picked up 419 votes and Linda R. Gonzales, a medical office administrator who finished with 289 votes.

Powers’ decision against running for reelection opened up his seat to one of the district’s most contested races in years, with many residents speaking out against the school board as officials worked to pull the district out of its financial crisis.

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