It's a runoff

Before Valdez received 40 percent of the total vote and Tijerina, 38 percent, not enough for either to win Commissioners Court head seat, the candidates for Webb County Judge engaged in a heated debate on campus, hosted the week before the start of early elections.
 
Memorable words by candidates, Danny Valdez, Tano Tijerina, and Andy Reyes were exchanged at the Texas A&M International University Student Center Theatre.
 
While all four candidates had originally rsvp'd for the debate, a rep from Louis Bruni contacted organizers to pull out 24 hours before. Hosted in part by the Political Science Association and Student Government Association (SGA), the event garnered much attention, resulting in a house packed to near capacity.
 
Topics on the table ranged from plans for a new bridge to helping the Colonias. The opening round consisted of the habitual introductory statements, each candidate making remarks that mirrored countless speeches from earlier in the week.
 
Throughout the debate each candidate held a firm stance, Tano maintaining his Christian appeal for leadership and business and Reyes referencing his highly qualified educational background, all the while Valdez reminding audiences that his 20-plus community service record spoke for itself.
 
Before the debate commenced, the audience was informed that the moderator would be accepting question submissions on small index cards, which were then dispersed.
 
The moderator, Rodolfo Morales, a TAMIU alumni and former SGA senator, later commented on the hostility of several of the audience questions, "If the questions came out awkward, it's because I had to censor some of the questions. One on Reyes was just ridiculous."
 
A student who submitted a question about dirty campaigning admit-tingly acknowledged the irony after the debate. "At least it wasn't as bad as yesterday's [Pro-8] news debate," said freshman TAMIU student, Erik Villa. "[Tano's] not that kind of person. I like Tano for keeping calm."
 
During one of the final rounds Reyes asked the moderator to approach Valdez, who was seated with a chair separating him and Reyes. Reyes, holding documents said to prove Valdez's unaccountable spending, received an explicit response from the audience, one woman yelling, "This isn't a court room! Sit down!"
 
From promises of streamlining, to hopes of bringing a new jail without comprising a sky-rocketing tax implementation, the debate, though popular, may not have been enough to sway votes.
"I'm still uncertain. Unfortunately, I did not know before the debate and I still don't know after [but] I enjoyed it," said political science major, Charlie Cantu.
 
Results from the early voting mobile branch, which had been situated at TAMIU's Student Center rotunda for over two days, reveal a total of 253 democrats and 23 republicans voted.

Organizers of the on campus debate say they are working towards bringing several runoff debates, including the County Judges, to TAMIU.
 
Current County Judge, Danny Valdez and newcomer, Tano Tijerina, will face off once more in a runoff April 13.

Spokespersons from both camps say the candidates are more than prepared to the win majority vote.

(Stephanie M. Ibarra may be reached at stephie@dusty.tamiu.edu)