Victoria County Democrats add candidates to commissioner races

By Brian M. Cuaron

Originally posted on 12/13/2011 at 11:28 p.m.

The Democratic primary for the Victoria County commissioner races just got more interesting.

Primaries for elected Victoria County positions are on March 6. The general election for those positions will be held in November.

Former Precinct 1 commissioner Chris Rivera, 59, has filed to get his old seat back, said Kelli Gill, chair of the Victoria County Democratic Party. Rivera served 12 years as the county's Precinct 1 commissioner before losing to the current Precinct 1 commissioner, Kenny Spann, in a primary run-off in 2008.

Kenneth Wells, a Victoria County Sheriff's Office deputy, also joined the race. 

Spann, 56, and Daniel Garcia Jr., 50, also have filed for the Precinct 1 commissioner race. Councilman Gabriel Soliz said he is gathering signatures to be put on the ballot and should turn them in by the end of this week.

Gill said that an agreement by the state's Democratic and Republican parties moved the filing deadline to Dec. 19. The previous deadline was Thursday. The agreement was in response to a U.S. Supreme Court decision that put a moratorium on the state's legislative maps drawn up by federal judges.

Adding excitement to the general election, Rey Herrera, 62, has filed as a Democrat for the Precinct 3 commissioner race. No other Democrat has filed for the position.

A Republican, Gary Burns, is the current Precinct 3 commissioner.

Rivera, Wells and Herrera opted to pay the $750 filing fee to enter their respective races, Gill said. Potential candidates can either pay the filing fee or gather a signed petition to be put on the ballot.

Kenneth Wells' platform

Wells said he plans to run on three issues: eliminating graffiti, increasing public safety and creating jobs.

"You drive around and you see a lot of graffiti here," said Wells, referring to Precinct 1. "That's a mark not to come here."

Eliminating graffiti and increasing public safety would entice businesses to Precinct 1, Wells said.

He called for using kids on probation, who needed to work off community hours, as a means of washing away graffiti. Volunteers, such as the youth, and road crews also could help clean the graffiti.

A crime-prevention officer, Wells said that residents and business owners needed to be aware of how to make their homes and businesses safer in order to increase public safety.

He also wanted to contact mortgage lenders that could direct potential home-buyers to available housing in Precinct 1. 

Wells said that he would be a proactive commissioner, who would accomplish his goals with transparency.

Regarding his campaign strategy, Wells said he would go for support in the precinct.