Marquez and Rockeymoore win runoff races

A hard-fought election season came to an end tonight with Mark Rockeymoore’s victory over Shane Scott and Jocabed “Joca” Marquez’s win over Rick Henderson in the runoff election for two seats on the San Marcos City Council.

Rockeymoore will take over the unexpired Place 4 term created when Jane Hughson became mayor after the Nov. 6 election. Marquez will take the Place 5 seat on the council currently held by Scott Gregson.

Both of the races were decisive. In the Place 4 race, Rockeymoore received 1,467 votes, or 63 percent, to Scott’s 866 votes, or 37 percent of the total votes cast. In the Place 5 election, Marquez received 1,472 votes, or 63 percent, to Henderson’s 869 votes, or 37 percent of the total votes cast..

Absentee and early voting totals had favored Rockeymoore and Marquez. Rockeymoore had 1,025 votes, or 61 percent, to Scott’s 645 votes, or 39 percent of absentee and early votes. Marquez had 1,065 votes, or 63 percent, to Henderson’s 613, or 37 percent of absentee and early ballots cast.

Turnout for the runoff election paled in comparison to the record-setting voter participation in the Nov. 6 election. That election had the draw of numerous state-level positions, including governor and lieutenant governor, and midterm congressional elections including the high-profile race between Democrat Beto O’Rourke and Republican Ted Cruz. Voter registration also surged ahead of the midterm election.

With Marquez’s victory, the San Marcos city council will have a female majority. Tonight’s election results also mean there will be three racial minorities on council: Marquez, Rockeymoore and current council member Saul Gonzales.

The winners of tonight’s runoff election will be sworn in on Dec. 19 after the city council canvasses the election results.