Results of the May 1 General Election were canvassed and certified and the winners sworn in during a Special meeting of the Devine City Council last Tuesday, May 11.
Mayor Cory Thompson and District 5 Councilwoman Debra Randall were re-elected, and Angela Pichardo was elected to the District 2 seat vacated by longtime Council member Steve Lopez.
All were elected for two-year terms.
Pichardo was also chosen to be the Council representative on a three-member committee responsible for ranking engineering services.
Election returns and oaths of office
Election judge Glenda Allen said the election process went smoothly and that there were no provisional voters.
“Everything went well,” Allen said. “I thought it was a very well-run election, even with the paper and the electronic [ballots].”
Thompson defeated opponent Kevin Hicks 229-207, while Randall beat Kevin Stephens 128-73, and Pichardo beat Maria Pena 32-18.
A motion by District 3 Councilman David Espinosa and Lopez to accept the results passed unanimously with the support of Randall, District 1 Councilman Rufino “Flipper” Vega, and District 4 Councilwoman Kathy Lawler.
An Espinosa-Lawler motion to approve the certificates of election also passed unanimously.
City Attorney Tom Cate then administered the oaths of office to Pichardo, Thompson, and Randall.
Engineering services ranking committee
The committee will rank the applications of engineering firms that apply to provide engineering services for road and utility infrastructure projects in the city.
Vega had previously served on the committee and was willing to do so again, and Pichardo also volunteered.
“This is a public works improvement project, so it will be the Public Works Director [Rob Flores], myself, and at least one elected official,” City Administrator John Vidaurri said.
A Vega-Espinosa motion to appoint Pichardo to the committee passed 4-0.
“I’ll abstain,” Randall said. “I don’t care.”
A Regular meeting was scheduled for press night on Tuesday, May 18.
By Marly Davis
Staff Writer
