Maldonado wins runoff
By G. Romero Wendorf
San Juan’s new city commissioners Shay Cantu, Place 4, and Raudel “Raudy” Maldonado, Place 5, have promised to be uniters as opposed to dividers if voters would give them the opportunity. So game on after Saturday’s vote carried Maldonado to victory over Dolores Salinas-Barrientes, 1,282 votes to 942.
Throughout the election, both the regular one, which Cantu won outright against Pete Garcia, and the runoff, which pitted Maldonado against Barientes, the two childhood friends – Shay and Raudy -- have promised one thing: their intent is to bring the city commission together in a united front to try and address some of the city’s primary problems: fixin streets, attracting new businesses to town, beautificationof the city, improved parks, better lighting in some of the neighborhoods, partnering with other government entities to leverage dollars.
But perhaps the biggest message throughout their campaign together as a slate has been: uniting the city commission.
In a previous interview before the May 9th election, Cantu said, “I think more than anything it’s a team attitude and a team energy that you want to implement. Being in sports all my life, I know that if you can get the team to push one way, then you’re definitelygoing to score more points. That’s just common sense. If we can get that unity, I think that we’re on the right path and can start showing some positive results around the city.”
If you asked most residents, they would probably count city commission unificationas a blessing because for at least the past two, maybe three elections, the rancor between some factions on the city commission has spilled over into outright personal hostility. And because of that, some have argued, the city’s progress has stalled, projects stymied.
But if you ask who bears the most blame for the bad blood inside city hall, the mayor, San Juanita Sanchez, or the mayor pro tem, Armando Garza, it gets split between their supporters as to who is to blame.
Before losing his last election, Armando Garza’s slate mate, City Commissioner Bob Garza, was also at bitter odds with the mayor, adding more fuel to the mix. Each side blamed the other for lack of leadership skills inside city hall.
This year, Armando Garza decided not to run for re-election after being selected to become chief administrator for new County Commissioner “Eddie” Cantu, Precinct 2. He said the work needed to get up to speed at the county level demanded too much of his time, but he’s promised to return next election to run against Sanchez for mayor.
“I’m not here to point finger at anyone,” said Shay Cantu prior to the May 9th election. “But you have to make a conscious effort to be a team player. You can talk to new businesses as a team. With a united front, there’s nothing you can’t do.”
“Raudy” Maldonado echoed those sentiments prior to the May 9th election, before his place was forced into a runoff due to the inclusion of a third candidate in the race, Pedro Contreras.
“What’s going on right now,” Maldonado said, “this side against (that) side, if they can’t work together, nothing is ever going to get done. So where is the light at the end of the tunnel?”
Asked what she thought about the idea of the city of San Juan moving away from the slate mentality and just focusing on what’s best for the city, agree to disagree at times, but still let the city commission work as a united front for the betterment of the entire community, Mayor Sanchez said, “Amen.”
After Saturday’s victory, Maldonado said, “I want to thank all of my family, friends and supporters for their confidencein me, and for their help in getting me elected. It’s my turn to repay the favor and to start making a positive change in our great city of San Juan.”