Region One ESC Announces Results of Board Election  
Incumbents Retain Seats

Edinburg, TX – The Region One ESC Board of Directors canvassed the votes of the Region One Board of Directors election during the regularly scheduled meeting held on April 18, 2023. Two seats were up for election including Place 2 representing Jim Hogg County, Starr County, and Zapata County and Place 5 representing Cameron County. 

In the Place 2 race, incumbent Ricardo Gutierrez faced challenger Ricardo X. Ramirez. The official tally count resulted in 146 votes for Ricardo Gutierrez. His opponent, Ricardo X. Ramirez received 54 votes.  In the Place 5 race, incumbent Ruben Cortez, Jr. was challenged by Drue Brown. Cortez received 132 votes to 48 votes for Brown.

Incumbents Ricardo Gutierrez and Ruben Cortez, Jr. were declared the winners for their Place 2 and Place 5 seats, respectively. Ricardo Gutierrez has served on the Region One Board since 2010, Ruben Cortez, Jr. has held his Place 5 seat since first being elected to the Board in 2011.  

Region One ESC Board of Directors are elected by the board members of the 38 public school districts in Region One. Each public school district board member is allowed one vote with the exception of the 24-member board of South Texas ISD which is allowed 7 votes (Region One Board Policy BBB (LOCAL)). Region One ESC Board Members serve for three-year terms. Newly elected members will be officially sworn in at the June Board of Directors meeting. 

Ricardo Gutierrez                               Ruben Cortez, Jr. 
Place 2                                                 Place 5