Precinct 3 Presidio County Commissioner Franky Ortiz resigned this month, and County Judge Joe Portillo appointed Obed Escontrias of Presidio to the seat when commissioners met this morning.
Ortiz did not submit an official resignation letter but made it clear in email correspondence that he was done with the position, according to Commissioner Deirdre Hisler. Ortiz did not respond to a request for comment.
Under Texas law, the judge may appoint someone directly. The appointed commissioner can then file an application for the November general election ballot, and other candidates can file as well to fill out the unexpired term. Ortiz served one year and two months of his four-year term, which expires in 2028. A newcomer to public service, he pulled off a one-vote win over Tiburcio “Butch” Acosta in May of 2024 to fill the seat of retiring José Luis Cabezuela.