Of the six contested El Paso County constable races, five of the incumbents are on their way to winning the Democratic primary and one is headed to a runoff.
The runoff will be in the race for Constable Precinct 1, which featured four candidates. Frank Almada and Andre “Andi” Baca are headed for a May 28 runoff as they are the top two vote-getters. The winner will replace Constable Oscar Ugarte, who is running for sheriff.
El Paso County has seven constable offices, each representing a different precinct. The constables work in conjunction with the justices of the peace, serve warrants, make arrests and carry out evictions as ordered by the courts. Constables serve four-year terms and are paid $107,133 a year.
Only one constable race did not have a challenger. And another constable, Precinct 4, will have a Republican challenger in the November general election.
Here is a roundup of the six contested constable races plus the incumbent who didn’t draw any opponents and is therefore reelected to the seat.
Precinct 1
Almada and Baca are headed to the primary runoff, as each received 40% of the vote.
The other two candidates, Saul Gutierrez and Tony San Roman, received 12% and 8% of the vote, respectively.
With no Republican opponent on the November ballot, the runoff winner will take the seat to replace Ugarte.
Precinct 1 encompasses the UTEP, Kern Place, Austin High School and airport area.
Precinct 2
With no Republican challenger in November, incumbent Danny Zamora, 63, was reelected with 56% of the vote in the Democratic primary. Zamora, who has been a constable since 2021, faced Jermiah Haggerty, who got 44% of the vote.
Precinct 42 covers the Fort Bliss and Northeast areas.
Precinct 3
With no Republican challenger, incumbent Hector Bernal, 64, has been reelected with 63% of the vote. Bernal, who has been a constable since 1999, was challenged by Eileen Lopez, a deputy constable with Precinct 5. She got 37% of the vote.
Constable Precinct 3 encompasses the Downtown, Jefferson, Burges, Eastwood and Hanks high school areas.
Precinct 4
Incumbent Luis Aguilar, 77, moves on to the November general election with 61% of the vote in the Democratic primary. Aguilar, who has been a constable since 2005, was challenged in the primary by Robert Lopez, who received 39% of the vote.
On Nov. 5, Aguilar will face Republican candidate Ozzie Carrasco, who was unopposed in the Republican primary.
Precinct 4 covers the El Dorado and Montwood high school areas.
Precinct 5
Incumbent Manny Lopez, who has been a constable since 2005, has been reelected with 59% of the vote as there is no Republican challenger in the general election.
Lopez faced Rito Rubio, 42, a deputy constable for Precinct 6, in the Democratic primary. Rubio received 41% of the vote.
Precinct 5 encompasses parts of the Lower Valley around Riverside, Bel Air, Ysleta and Del Valle high schools. There is no Republican challenger in this race.
Precinct 6, Place 1
Incumbent Javier Garcia, 44, who has served as constable since 2013, has been reelected with 60% of the vote. He was being challenged by Rafael Chavez, a deputy constable for Precinct 5, who received 40% of the vote. There is no Republican challenger in this race.
Place 1 of Precinct 6 encompasses the towns of Socorro, Clint, San Elizario, Fabens, Tornillo and parts of the East Montana neighborhood.
Precinct 7
Incumbent Angie Sommers, who has been the constable since 2009, did not have an opponent in the Democratic primary. She also does not have a Republican opponent in November, and will therefore serve for four more years.
Constable Precinct 7 encompasses most of the Upper Valley, Canutillo, Vinton and the Franklin High School area.
The post Constable races: Here’s who’s ousted, headed to reelection or in runoff appeared first on El Paso Matters.
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