Voters say yes to Issue A

CENTER — Daniel “Archie” Gallegos was leading Center’s mayoral election, according to preliminary unofficial results released by the Town of Center.

Gallegos was a current trustee and decided to run for mayor against incumbent Anthony Tony Garcia in the April 2 election. Gallegos received 175 votes and Garcia received 140.

Four trustee seats were also before voters — three 4-year terms and one 2-year term. Incumbents Nivek Beiriger with 213 votes and Bill McClure with 159 and newcomer Paul Lopez with 220 votes were leading in the race for the 4-year terms. James Sanchez with 152 votes was leading in the 2-year term.

There could be some jostling in the trustee races as more votes are counted. Susan Gardea was fifth with 143 votes, followed by Natalia Judith Hernandez with 107 and Rogelio Aguilar with 101 votes.

Voters were also deciding Issue A, which creates a special economic development fund to be used for downtown revitalization and North 90 development. It received 175 yes votes and 126 no votes.

If approved, it takes .5 percent of the voter-approved 2 percent sales tax passed in 2020 to create the new economic development fund. The remaining 1.5 percent will continue to be used for capital improvements to town assets, public safety services, and park equipment improvements in the general fund.

More ballots are being counted and verified, and official results will be announced after all ballots have been processed.