Venetta Seals

Seals graduated from Tyler Junior College with an Associate of Arts, and was a member of Phi Theta Kappa.{{cite web|url=http://www.pecostx.gov/government/mayor-and-city-council/mayor-venetta-seals |title=Pecos, TX : Mayor Venetta Seals |publisher=Pecostx.gov |date=September 20, 2011 |accessdate=December 5, 2016}} She continued her education at the University of Texas at Tyler and the University of Texas at El Paso, eventually graduating with a bachelor's degree in commercial art design with a minor in English literature. While working towards her bachelor's degree, she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Prior to becoming mayor, Seals served as the president of the Pecos Area Chamber of Commerce, and is currently a board member.{{cite web|url=http://visitpecos.com/pecos-chamber |title=Pecos Area Chamber of Commerce | Pecos |publisher=Visitpecos.com |date= |accessdate=December 5, 2016}} She is the owner of Hang Your Hat Storage, and is the director of public relations, marketing, community development, physician recruitment, and grants for the Reeves County Hospital District.

Prior to being elected mayor, Seals was a member of the Pecos City Council for four years.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xvwOCgAAQBAJ&q=%22venetta+seals%22&pg=PA169|title=The Economic Survival of America's Isolated Small Towns|first=Gerald L.|last=Gordon|date=June 26, 2015|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=9781482248838|via=Google Books}}

On May 8, 2010, Venetta Seals won the mayoral election with 49% of the vote. She defeated David L. Flores by two percentage points.{{cite web|url=http://www.newschannel10.com/story/12440988/may-8th-election-results?clienttype=printable&redirected=true |title=May 8th Election Results – KFDA – NewsChannel 10 / Amarillo News, Weather, Sports |publisher=Newschannel10.com |date= |accessdate=December 5, 2016}} During her first two-year term as mayor, she saw a spike in housing demand due to increased oil drilling activity in the Wolfbone formation under Reeves County.{{cite web|last=Corrales |first=John |url=http://www.oaoa.com/news/business/article_679936fc-ff63-5d79-92b3-29a493824fe3.html |title=BOOMTOWN: Wolfcamp, horizontal drilling spur oil resurgence – Odessa American: Business |publisher=Oaoa.com |date=March 10, 2012 |accessdate=December 5, 2016}} Pecos' population increased from 8,680 in 2010, to around 9,500 in early 2012, and the Pecos City Council voted to open a 500-capacity RV park to deal with the increase. She also had to deal with the sudden death of City Manager Joseph Gilbert Torres on March 31, 2011, following his indictment for indecency with a child.{{cite web|url=http://www.valleymorningstar.com/news/latest_news/article_69bca2df-771e-5a16-9893-98e1f9e37d4e.html |title=Indicted Pecos city manager found shot to death – Valley Morning Star : Latest News |publisher=Valley Morning Star |date=March 31, 2011 |accessdate=December 5, 2016}}

On May 12, 2012, Seals was re-elected for a second term, with 496 of 956 votes. She defeated Bernadette Portillo Lopez and Noel Mata Ybarra.{{cite web |url=http://www.townofpecoscitytx.com/Archive/ViewFile/Item/661 |title=Town Council Minutes |publisher=Town of Pecos City |author=Town Council of the Town of Pecos City |date=May 17, 2012 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20161206/http://www.townofpecoscitytx.com/Archive/ViewFile/Item/661 |archivedate=December 6, 2016}} During her second term, she defended O'Hara Flying Service, the city's air ambulance, after it was found to have state EMS rule violations.{{cite web|url=http://www.newswest9.com/story/19059231/west-texas-air-ambulance-has-state-violations |title=West Texas Air Ambulance Has State Violations – KWES NewsWest 9 / Midland, Odessa, Big Spring, TX |publisher=newswest9.com |date= |accessdate=December 5, 2016}} She also dealt with the prolonged closure of the Pecos Zoo due to new regulations.{{cite web|url=http://www.newswest9.com/story/18828891/pecos-zoo-to-remain-closed |title=Pecos Zoo to Remain Closed – KWES NewsWest 9 / Midland, Odessa, Big Spring, TX |publisher=newswest9.com |date= |accessdate=December 5, 2016}}

On May 10, 2014, Seals was re-elected for a third term, defeating David L. Flores with 51% of the vote to his 49%.{{cite web|author=0T:49Z |url=http://www.newswest9.com/story/25483825/decision-2014-may-10-election-results |title=Decision 2014 – May 10 Final Election Results – KWES NewsWest 9 / Midland, Odessa, Big Spring, TX |publisher=newswest9.com |date=November 16, 2016 |accessdate=December 5, 2016}} In September 2014, she oversaw the city's response to heavy flooding after the Pecos River overflowed, with help from state and federal agencies.{{cite web|url=http://marfapublicradio.org/blog/mayor-says-pecos-is-ready-for-second-round-of-flooding/ |title=Red Cross Shelter at Pecos High School Closes Today | KRTS 93.5 FM Marfa Public Radio |publisher=Marfapublicradio.org |date=December 1, 2016 |accessdate=December 5, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.kgns.tv/home/headlines/Pecos-River-overflows-276392831.html |title=Pecos River overflows |publisher=Kgns.tv |date=September 22, 2014 |accessdate=December 5, 2016 |last1=Reyes |first1=Justin J. }} In June 2015, the Mayor supported the council's ban on plastic bags.{{cite web|author=Lauren Tropea |url=http://www.yourbasin.com/news/pecos-bans-the-use-of-plastic-bags |title=Pecos Bans the Use of Plastic Bags – Story |work=YOURBASIN |date= June 23, 2015|accessdate=December 5, 2016}}

Seals was re-elected for a fourth term on May 7, 2016, with a 35-vote lead.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbs7.com/content/news/FINAL-DECISION-Pecos-Residents-Voted-to-Reallocate-Funds-to-Improve-Roads-378577666.html |title=FINAL DECISION: Pecos Residents Voted to Reallocate Funds to Improve Roads |publisher=Cbs7.com |date=May 8, 2016 |accessdate=December 5, 2016}}

She ran for a fifth term in the May 4, 2019, mayoral election{{cite web|url=https://marfapublicradio.org/blog/whats-on-your-ballot-in-may-a-guide-to-2019-elections-in-west-texas/ |title=What's On Your Ballot in May? A Guide To 2019 Elections in West Texas |publisher= marfapublicradio.org |date= April 1, 2019 |accessdate=August 9, 2019}} but failed to garner enough votes against opponents David L. Flores and Jesus Orosco, leading to a runoff between Seals and Flores. The runoff election occurred on June 8, 2019, and resulted in Seals losing to Flores by 221 votes.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbs7.com/search?searchKeywords=pecos+mayor&sType=atc |title=Pecos posts unofficial runoff election totals |publisher=cbs7.com |date=June 8, 2019 |accessdate=August 9, 2019}}

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Category:Living people

Category:University of Texas at El Paso alumni

Category:21st-century mayors of places in Texas

Category:Mayors of places in Texas

Category:Women mayors of places in Texas

Category:21st-century American women politicians

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:People from Pecos, Texas