Four Eagle Pass Independent School District Board of Trustee Positions Open for Election

By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

The Eagle Pass Independent School District (EPISD) Board of Trustees has four positions open for election in the November 4, 2014 general election. The EPISD Board of Trustees are responsible for establishing and passing public education policy decisions affecting over 15,000 public school children in the local public school district covering the entire County of Maverick, as well as hiring and firing the top administrator positions.

The four positions open for election are Place 1, held by appointed Trustee Benjamin Rodriguez, III; Place 3, held by incumbent Trustee Ramon Ramirez; Place 4, held by appointed Trustee Hilda Martinez Caballero; and Place 5, held by incumbent Trustee Lupita Fuentes. All four appointed or incumbent Trustees have already registered for either election to a full term or re-election to another term.

Currently, the only EPISD School Board Place to receive another candidate is Place 3 held by Ramon Ramirez which has drawn former Maverick County Judge and retired EPISD Administrator Rudy Bowles. All other three EPISD School Board Places open for election have not yet received any opponents. All four EPISD School Board Places are open to the public for anyone seeking to serve the best interests of the 15,000 plus public school students and taxpayers in our community.

Any person interested in running for one of the four EPISD School Board Places may pick-up a candidate application and register their candidacy with EPISD Election Administrator Susie Perez at the EPISD District Service Center located at 1420 Eidson Road in Eagle Pass. The candidate registration period is between July 21, 2014 to August 18, 2014. There is no candidate registration fee. The EPISD School Board election is non-partisan.

For more information on how to register for the EPISD School Board election or the requirements for running for one of the four open positions, please contact EPISD Elections Administrator Susie Perez at (830) 773-5181 or visit her at the EPISD District Service Center at 1420 Eidson Road.

EPISD Place 1 Board of Trustee Benjamin Rodriguez, III, was appointed on Monday, July 15, 2013, to replace former Trustee Claudio Heredia, who resigned due to family reasons, and is seeking election to a full term. Former Trustee Claudio Heredia tendered his resignation on Tuesday, July 9, 2013 to become effective on Wednesday, July 10, 2013. Currently, Rodriguez is unopposed.

EPISD Place 3 Board of Trustee Ramon Ramirez is seeking re-election to another full term. Ramirez is the first Trustee to draw an opponent in former Maverick County Judge and retired EPISD Administrator Rudy Bowles.

EPISD Place 4 Board of Trustee Hilda Martinez-Caballero was appointed on Thursday, August 8, 2013 to replace former Trustee Ani G. Santleben, who resigned, and is seeking election to a full term. Currently, Martinez-Caballero is unopposed.

EPISD Place 5 Board of Trustee Lupita Fuentes is seeking re-election to another full term. Currently, Fuentes is unopposed.

Early voting for the November 4, 2014 general election commences on October 20, 2014 and runs through October 31, 2014 at the City of Eagle Pass Multi-Purpose Center. Election Day is on Tuesday, November 4, 2014, with voting to take place at each Maverick County Precinct polling places established by Maverick County Commissioners Court.

Public service to the community as a publicly elected official is a privilege and an honor to all American citizens. Democracy depends on interested and concerned citizens to register and run as candidates for local, state, and national public offices. The EPISD Board of Trustees election is an important call to public service in our community.