By Erin Sheridan
Brownsville Herald
Former Cameron County district clerk Eric Garza unseated 19-year incumbent Sheriff Omar Lucio in the primary runoff election to secure the nomination on the Democratic Party ticket Tuesday night.
By 9:30 p.m., unofficial results with 100 percent of precincts reporting showed Garza had collected 11,670 votes, or 57.07 percent of the total, securing his spot as the Democratic nominee. Sheriff Lucio won 8,777 votes, ending the race with almost 43 percent of the vote.
Following Tuesday’s win, Garza will face off against John Chambers, the candidate for sheriff on the Republican ticket and former chief of the Indian Lake Police Department.
Garza said campaign staff doubled down on their canvassing efforts after the close primary race last spring.
“We worked harder, we block walked, we went out and made sure we met the voters — the ones that represent the county. There are a lot of cities in Cameron County, they’re all diverse, and everyone has a different need and want. We made sure that we went out to find out what they needed and talk to them,” he said.
Garza served as District Clerk for approximately five years and said his administrative experience at the county gives him unique insight into what needs to be fixed.
“The Sheriff’s Office is $31 million of over a $100 million budget,” he said.
“Unfortunately at the jail, the administration has cost the county millions of dollars — not only in the past five years, but in the past since the current administration. I want to have financial stability, make sure we’re accountable to the voters, make sure that our deputies are trained, make sure that we have a jail that’s in compliance, and that we provide the protections to the citizenry.”
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“The Sheriff’s Office is $31 million of over a $100 million budget,” he said.
“Unfortunately at the jail, the administration has cost the county millions of dollars — not only in the past five years, but in the past since the current administration. I want to have financial stability, make sure we’re accountable to the voters, make sure that our deputies are trained, make sure that we have a jail that’s in compliance, and that we provide the protections to the citizenry.”
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