Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.

ODESSA — Cal Hendrick, an insurance attorney pledging to return the City Council’s attention to everyday issues, defeated Javier Joven in this West Texas city’s mayoral race.

“I told people I had a vision. I have a job to do,” Hendrick said. “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, also lost their reelection bids. All three lost by wide margins, according to unofficial election results.

Joven, in a statement to The Texas Tribune, congratulated Hendrick and other winners.

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

The results close Joven’s tumultuous term after spending the last three years fending off criticism about his priorities — which critics said had been laden with social issues that distracted the council’s attention. Joven was unapologetic about his faith and the role it played in his governing style and priorities.

Related Story

Now, Hendrick said he plans to make good where he said the current council fell short.

Hendrick said he would support lower taxes, revive regular trash services and fill the ranks of the city’s police force and emergency services. He would put a 2019 water plan in place to replace the city’s roughly 700 miles of aging water pipes, whose disrepair has resulted in two citywide outages in two years. And he plans to implement a 75-page transportation plan to fix roads.

Hendrick will not seek to repeal an anti-abortion ordinance or ban on certain restrooms for transgender people the council passed under Joven — two issues considered a cornerstone of his platform. It will not be part of the council’s business, he said.

“I don’t see how I can enforce anything that’s been passed. It’s a non-issue,” he said, 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 also suggested the council should evaluate whether to keep John Beckmeyer as Odessa’s city manager. “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 campaign jabbed Joven over his governing style. Spending under Joven, Hendrick said, increased by 20% and he lambasted Joven for voting to increase utility fees at least nine times and to increase property taxes on three occasions.

He said the council failed to address understaffing among police officers and fire rescue employees. He also criticized the city’s bookkeeping, noting that Odessa’s credit rating briefly dipped during Joven’s tenure.

During the campaign, Joven said the attorney would promote a progressive platform, which he said countered Odessa’s conservative spirit.

Joven has also accused Hendrick of representing a bygone era of politicians in Odessa who left the City Council with growing infrastructure problems. Hendrick forcefully disputed the comparison.

Hendrick comes from a family of cattle ranchers who settled in Odessa in 1880 from Uvalde. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin’s law school in 1990. A former litigator, Hendrick represented oil and gas companies in court for decades.

Disclosure: University of Texas at Austin has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

Voting FAQ: 2024 Elections

When is the next election? What dates do I need to know?

Election Day for the general election is November 5, and early voting will run from Oct. 21 to Nov. 1. The deadline to register to vote and/or change your voter registration address is Oct. 7. Applications to vote by mail must be received by your county of residence – not postmarked – by Oct. 25.

What’s on the ballot for the general election?

In addition to the president, eligible Texans have the opportunity to cast their ballots for many Texas officials running for office at the federal, state and local levels.
This includes representatives in the U.S. and Texas houses and the following elected offices:
-1 U.S Senator (Ted Cruz)
– 1 of 3 Railroad Commissioners
– 15 State Senators
– 7 State Board of Education members
– 3 members of the Texas Supreme Court
– 3 members of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
– 5 Chief Justices and various justices for Texas Courts of Appeals

Lower-level judges and local county offices will also appear on the ballot:
– Various district judges, including on criminal and family courts
– County Courts at Law
– Justices of the Peace
– District Attorneys
– County Attorneys
– Sheriffs
– Constables
– Tax Assessor-Collectors

How do I make sure I’m registered to vote?

You can check to see if you’re registered and verify your information through the Texas Secretary of State’s website. You’ll need one of the following three combinations to log in: Your Texas driver’s license number and date of birth. Your first and last names, date of birth and county you reside in. Your date of birth and Voter Unique Identifier, which appears on your voter registration certificate.

What if I missed the voter registration deadline?

You must be registered to vote in a Texas county by Oct. 7 to vote in the Nov. 5 presidential election. You can still register for other elections.
If you’re registered but didn’t update your address by the deadline, you may still be able to vote at your previous voting location or on a limited ballot. (Voters are typically assigned precincts based on where they live. In most major counties, voters can vote anywhere on Election Day, but some counties require you vote within your precinct. If that is the case, you may have to return to your previous precinct. See which counties allow countywide Election Day voting here. You can usually find your precinct listed on your voter registration certificate or on when checking your registration online.)
If you moved from one county to another, you may be able to vote on a ballot limited to the elections you would qualify to vote in at both locations, such as statewide races. However, limited ballots are only available during early voting. Find your county election official here and contact them to ask about or request a limited ballot.

What can I do if I have questions about voting?

You can contact your county elections official or call the Texas Secretary of State’s helpline at 1-800-252-VOTE (8683). A coalition of voting rights groups is also helping voters navigate election concerns through the 866-OUR-VOTE (687-8683) voter-protection helpline. The coalition also has hotlines available for voters who speaker other languages or have accessibility needs.
For help in Spanish, call 888-VE-Y-VOTA or 888-839-8682.
For help in Asian languages, call 888-API-VOTE or 888-274-8683.
For help in Arabic, call 888-YALLA-US or 888-925-5287.
For help in American Sign Language through a video, call 301-818-VOTE or 301-818-8683.
For help from Disability Rights Texas, call 888-796-VOTE or 888-796-8683.

Sponsored by

 Learn about The Texas Tribune’s policies, including our partnership with The Trust Project to increase transparency in news.

Carlos Nogueras Ramos is a regional reporter based in Odessa. Carlos joined The Texas Tribune in 2023 as a corps member with Report for America. Carlos tells the stories of Texas from the vast energy-rich...