Three file to run for District 4 vacancy

Three candidates have filed to run for the November special election for the District 4 Gonzales City Council seat vacated earlier this year by Rob Brown.

City Secretary Kristina Vega said Ronda Miller, Thomas Enriquez and Dan Blakemore all filed to run by the Sept. 1 deadline and their names are listed above in ballot order after a drawing for places was held Tuesday, Sept. 7.
Brown, who served as mayor pro tem, submitted his resignation letter to City Manager Tim Patek on July 26, citing the growth of his business as the reason, adding that he and his family would relocate to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Brown is a business partner with Rene De La Garza in the Texas Land and Right of Way, LLC, which is headquartered in Gonzales at 615 St. Paul St. The company assists utilities and other entities in the acquisition of title, right-of-way easements and water rights in multiple counties throughout central Texas.

It was Blakemore whom Brown defeated in the District 4 race in November 2020 as Brown unseated the incumbent by a 56.68% to 43.32% margin (433 votes to 331). Prior to his win last November, Brown had previously run unsuccessfully for mayor. Blakemore served as a council member for three years from 2017 to 2020.

The special election is being held in conjunction with the state’s constitutional amendment election on Nov. 2 and the council has approved an agreement with Gonzales County for the latter to conduct the election. The estimated cost to the City of Gonzales is $2,562.43, however, the price could change based on the amount of time election workers spend on their required duties.

This marks the second time in just 12 months voters will have to go to the polls to elect a District 4 council member.

Steve Fountain contributed to this report.