Cal Hendrick wins Odessa mayor’s race, beating incumbent who centered on religion

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ODESSA — Cal Hendrick, an insurance coverage legal professional pledging to return the Metropolis Council’s consideration to on a regular basis points, defeated Javier Joven on this West Texas metropolis’s mayoral race.

“I told people I had a vision. I have a job to do,” Hendrick stated. “And we need to roll up our sleeves and start getting the job done. I don’t want to have an excuse in four years. The job starts immediately.”

Council members Mark Matta and Denise Swanner, two of Joven’s closest allies elected with him in 2020, additionally misplaced their reelection bids. All three misplaced by extensive margins, based on unofficial election outcomes.

Joven, in a press release to The Texas Tribune, congratulated Hendrick and different winners.

“I’ll keep them in my prayers,” he stated.

The outcomes shut Joven’s tumultuous time period after spending the final three years heading off criticism about his priorities — which critics stated had been laden with social points that distracted the council’s consideration. Joven was unapologetic about his religion and the function it performed in his governing fashion and priorities.

Now, Hendrick stated he plans to make good the place he stated the present council fell quick.

Hendrick stated he would assist decrease taxes, revive common trash providers and fill the ranks of the town’s police power and emergency providers. He would put a 2019 water plan in place to interchange the town’s roughly 700 miles of growing old water pipes, whose disrepair has resulted in two citywide outages in two years. And he plans to implement a 75-page transportation plan to repair roads.

Hendrick is not going to search to repeal an anti-abortion ordinance or ban on sure restrooms for transgender folks the council handed below Joven — two points thought of a cornerstone of his platform. It is not going to be a part of the council’s enterprise, he stated.

“I don’t see how I can enforce anything that’s been passed. It’s a non-issue,” he stated, referring to the ordinances. “I do not see it as a part of my future. I’m going to focus on what’s important to this city. Things that happened in the past are already there, whether I agree or disagree. That’s not what people elected me to do.”

He additionally advised the council ought to consider whether or not to maintain John Beckmeyer as Odessa’s metropolis supervisor. “Is he the right person to lead this city for the next four years? And that’s something that will have to be discussed.”

Hendrick’s marketing campaign jabbed Joven over his governing fashion. Spending below Joven, Hendrick stated, elevated by 20% and he lambasted Joven for voting to extend utility charges no less than 9 occasions and to extend property taxes on three events.

He stated the council failed to deal with understaffing amongst cops and hearth rescue workers. He additionally criticized the town’s bookkeeping, noting that Odessa’s credit standing briefly dipped throughout Joven’s tenure.

Throughout the marketing campaign, Joven stated the legal professional would promote a progressive platform, which he stated countered Odessa’s conservative spirit.

Joven has additionally accused Hendrick of representing a bygone period of politicians in Odessa who left the Metropolis Council with rising infrastructure issues. Hendrick forcefully disputed the comparability.

Hendrick comes from a household of cattle ranchers who settled in Odessa in 1880 from Uvalde. He graduated from the College of Texas at Austin’s regulation college in 1990. A former litigator, Hendrick represented oil and gasoline corporations in court docket for many years.

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