Cameron County voters on Tuesday rejected collective bargaining rights for Cameron County deputies and detention officers by a slim margin.
By a vote of 2,321 in favor and 2,639 against, the initiative failed. Initial vote counts had indicated that it would be a tight race.
Cameron County Sheriff’s Deputies Association President Luis Mendita could not be located for comment.
But he, with the help of the Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas (CLEAT), led the effort that would have allowed deputies and detention officers to organize and bargain with the county regarding compensation, hours, and other conditions of employment.
Polls opened at 7 a.m. and closed at 7 p.m., drawing 3,266 voters on Election Day, 1,815 votes during the early voting period, and 19 mailed-in votes.
The collective bargaining initiative drew 924 early votes for it and 830 votes against it. A total of seven mail in votes were cast for it and 12 were cast against it.
On Election Day, 1,390 votes were cast in favor and 1,797 votes were cast against. A total of 5,100 votes were cast in the election.
The voter turnout was significantly low. There are 169,950 registered voters.
The returns were not available until 9:50 p.m., because the boxes from Harlingen came in late, a couple of hours after the polls closed at 7 p.m.
The returns were not available until 9:50 p.m., because the boxes from Harlingen came in late, a couple of hours after the polls closed at 7 p.m.
This is not the first time that the Harlingen boxes come in later than what would be expected.
But County Election and Voter Registration Administrator Roger Ortiz said, “rather late than wrong.”
But County Election and Voter Registration Administrator Roger Ortiz said, “rather late than wrong.”
Proponents had argued that a collective bargaining agreement would protect deputies and detention officers, providing them adequate pay and other benefits. Opponents, on the other hand, argued that bargaining agreements would deplete funds for the operation and maintenance of the county to detriment of the county’s operation and maintenance and other employees not protected by an agreement.
Commissioners Court was forced to place collective bargaining on the ballot after the association turned in a petition for the referendum containing more than 3,400 signatures.
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