Was this election fair?

With three people running for Hidalgo County judge in the Democrat Primary, you should know by the time you read this story (written Tuesday afternoon on Election Day) whether or not there will be a runoff.

Incumbent Richard Cortez vs. former McAllen City Commissioner Tania Ramirez vs. former County Democratic Party Chair Norma Ramirez. All viable candidates. Tuesday, though, Cortez was clear

Tuesday, though, Cortez was clearly frustrated at the dearth (lack) of polling locations in the western part of the county where he won his last election by 2,000 votes.

Typically, in Democratic primaries past, Mission, for example, would have five polling locations, and adjacent Sharyland would have one. This election, Mission had one and

This election, Mission had one and Shary had one. In past primaries, Sullivan City,

In past primaries, Sullivan City, La Joya, Alton, and Palmhurst would split approximately six polling locations.

This primary, all four cities shared just two locations — Sullivan City and Palmhurst.

Meanwhile, as Cortez pointed out Tuesday, why have eight voting locations in Edinburg (considered by some to be more of a Norma Ramirez stronghold since she lives there), compared to only one in Mission; and if people are a problem, or the lack thereof, when it comes to working the polls, some would surely be willing to move to another location if Patrick Eronini would only open more locations on the west side.

The guy calling the shots — open the locations here, but not there — ultimately belongs to Eronini, interim Hidalgo County Democratic Chair, who is also “good friends” with one of those running for county judge, Norma Ramirez.

Judge Cortez said he also finds it morally, ethically wrong for the interim Democratic Party chair, Eronini, to be outside a polling location holding his opponent’s campaign sign. “Vote for Norma

Ramirez.”

“There is just something wrong with that,” said Cortez. Still old school, the county judge believes that a county chair should remain neutral in local races.

For Norma Ramirez, though, under her tenure, getting partisan in local races was nothing new, at least allegedly speaking. In local San Juan races, for example, she was accused of supporting one candidate over the other for city commission. She would say that, no, she wasn’t holding any sign, but she was just standing next to her employees who were holding campaign signs.

Let’s see how this story plays out. Writing this Tuesday, it looks like a runoff is in the works.