Aguirre Withdraws from SMD 1 Council Seat Race

SAN ANGELO, TX — This morning, Trinidad Aguirre announced on his personal Facebook page he is withdrawing from the SMD 1 council race. The race for the seat vacated by former Councilman Bill Richardson drew new competitors, including Tommy Mac Hiebert, the current president of the City of San Angelo Development Corporation (COSA-DC).  Local Republican activist Anna Bartosh also filed Thursday, making the contest for the unexpired term through 2020 a crowded field.

Aguirre lost to former Councilman Bill Richardson by just 46 votes on May 2016.

"After much thought and consideration, I have elected to withdraw my name from the City Council – SMD1.

“The worst part of withdrawing is the amount of support that I have received over the past few years. I have made friendships that will last a lifetime and met some of San Angelo’s finest individuals. I will continue to serve on the Chamber of Commerce Board and continue to support the community as I have done in the past.

“The primary reason for withdrawing my candidacy is health concerns. Additionally, I have been blessed with a wonderful life and it’s time to start truly enjoying it. My wife and I plan to travel and spend more time with our family.

"I wish the candidates my best and thank everyone again for their support,” Aguirre stated on Facebook.

The two still in the SMD 1 race are Tommy Mac Heibert and Anna R. Bartosh.

Candidate packets can be downloaded at cosatx.us/May2017. Physical copies are available in the City Clerk’s office in Room 210 on the second floor of City Hall, 72 W. College Ave. The office is open weekdays 8 a.m.-noon and 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Candidates file the necessary paperwork in the City Clerk’s office. Questions can be addressed to City Clerk Bryan Kendrick at 325-657-4405 or at [email protected].

Also on May 6, voters will elect a mayor and representatives in the District 2, 4 and 6 seats. The winners of those races will serve four-year terms. Those who filed their candidacies for those four seats in the regularly scheduled election are:

• Mayor – Tony Villarreal, Brenda Gunter, Charlotte Farmer, Zach Taylor.
• District 2 – Tom Thompson.
• District 4 – Lucy Gonzales, Chris Giroux.
• District 6 – Steve Hampton, Rebekah Coffman, Billie F. DeWitt.

Voters can look at a map of the City Council districts at cosatx.us/council. Determining which district one lives in can be determined by clicking the GIS map viewer on the same page.

Voters must be registered to vote by April 7 to vote in the May 6 election. Voter registration information can be found at votetomgreencounty.org; in the Tom Green County Election/Voter Registration Office on the first floor of the Edd B. Keyes Building, 113 W. Beauregard Ave.; and at all three Tom Green County library locations.