Tuesday, November 1, 2016

ZENDEJAS, BISD LEGAL COUNSEL MEDDLE IN BOARD ELECTION: BALTAZAR SALAZAR BEHIND BROWNSVILLE TAXPAYERS PAC

By Juan Montoya
In a fashion unprecedented in previous Brownsville Independent School District elections, sources at the district say that superintendent Esperanza Zendejas and board counsel Baltazar Salazar are knee-deep in involvement trying to influence the ongoing school board elections.

Zandejas, who fears for her $250,000-plus job if a new board majority wins, is said to be doing her utmost to make sure that incumbents from Position 3 Otis Powers and Position 5 Caty Presas-Garcia do not return.

Likewise, she fears that a victory by either Dr. Sylvia Atkinson and Rigo Bocanegra in Position 7 might further eat into the majority that has kept her at the head of administration of the BISD.
In Place 6, it appears that Kent Whittemore and incumbent Minerva Peña stand the best chance of joining the new majority if the attempts to influence the outcome by Zendejas and board counsel Baltazar Salazar are not successful.

Sources in the BISD indicate that she has already applied for a superintendent's position with a California school district as hedge if the elections don't go her way.

So far, Counsel Salazar has invested in several races, some to oust the incumbents, and others to try to buy the goodwill of incoming board members.
In particular, he has singled out Presas-Garcia by being the only contributor to the Brownsville Taxpayers Political Action Committee (BTPAC). The PAC's treasurer's report to the Texas Ethics Commission indicates that he has been the sole contributor to the PAC with $13,200.42 in in-kind political contributions.

In page 3 of his report, treasurer Juan Flores Leal states that the General Purpose Committee was set up to support Position 5 candidates Laura Perez-Reyes, Erasmo Castro, and Laura Castro – the other three candidates in Place 5 – and to oppose incumbent Caty Presas-Garcia.
http://204.65.203.5/public/100648271.pdf

 No other individuals are listed as political contributors other than Baltazar.
Originally, the PAC treasurer, the vanishing  Juan Flores Leal, listed his "residence or office" in a vacant lot listed at 925 N. Iowa, in Brownsville. That turned out to be a vacant lot up for sale by Liz Realty. Liz Realty is owned by Liz Vera, Salazar's sister and a BISD teacher. (see graphic at top right.)

In the updated TEC report, Flores' address has changed to 9574 Ravensworth, in Houston, a home that appears to be vacant and in a state of disrepair, although it is not listed for sale. If you click on the graphic, you can see that that the electric meter is missing in the front and that a red tag is affixed next to it indicating its removal by the utility company.
The Harris County Appraisal District lists as its owners Baltazar and Maria Salazar, with an address of 8814 Brae Acres Rd., Salazar's home address.

Is Flores that well off that he can move from Brownsville to Houston in the space of a month? How can he live without electricity? Does he even exist?
In the itemized political contribution report filed by the BTPAC, Baltazar is reported to have contributed for the following:

Sept. 30: $800 for Advertising/Web Design
Oct. 4: $5,340 for Advertising/Printing/Mailing Services
Oct. 13: $5,340 for Advertising/Printing/Mailing Services
Oct. 28: $420 for Legal Services/Consulting
Oct. 28: $1,300 Advertising/Printing/Mailing Services

(Click on graphic to enlarge)

In the days preceding early voting, at least two massive mailouts charging that Presas-Garcia had cost the district millions in legal costs were mailed to district voters. The mailing address of the BTPAC was then listed as  400 E. Alton Gloor, Ste. B, #222 that turned out to be a Fed Ex franchise where one can also rent a mailbox address.
The owner of the business said he had nothing to do with the PAC's deception and said he would no longer provide them the mailbox service.

The attempt by Salazar to influence the outcome of the BISD elections and protect his $264,000 job seems to run counter to the clause in his contract that prohibits him from contributing to BISD incumbents or board candidates.

A "Gifts to Public Servants Clause" in Salazar's contract reads:
"General Counsel warrants that he has not given, nor does he intend to give, at any time hereafter, any economic opportunity, future employment, gift, loan, gratuity, special discounts, trips, favors, or service to a public servant in connection with the award of this agreement."

Salazar, of course, interprets this clause a bit differently than most laymen or even lawyers. Now we know who's behind the phantom BTPAC. Or do we?

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

All of this is about doing what is in the best interest of the student, isn't that right? That is why they are elected or hired, right?

Anonymous said...

Baltazar Salazer needs to go, he is a sorry ass attorney, why did the board hire him. What happen here? Is the board stupit?

Anonymous said...

Still, the focus is on Zendejas, Salazar.....highly paid BISD employees.....who seek to envolve themselves in the election, to protect their own paycheck....not to improve education and promote academic excellence. Knowing that many voters are focused on the Presidential election and all the media attention, it is not likely that local voters are going to take the time to learn about the BISD candidates; that faculty members at BISD are going to vote to keep their jobs and parents that have not taken their kids to the Idea Academies just want the BISD Daycare to continue.

Anonymous said...

Salazar and Jaime Escobedo are together in this conspiracy

Anonymous said...

that a superintendent "meddles" in elections is not rare, juan. of course they are preserving their jobs! You are so naive, dude!

Anonymous said...

Fuera

Anonymous said...

Hahah idea academies what a joke. All these parents think that their hard headed juanitos and marias will do better at idea. I've got news for you it's the student not the school. Maybe if YOU as a parent helpded, worked, disciplined, educated your child they would do better.

Anonymous said...

A "Gifts to Public Servants Clause" in Salazar's contract reads:
"General Counsel warrants that he has not given, nor does he intend to give, at any time hereafter, any economic opportunity, future employment, gift, loan, gratuity, special discounts, trips, favors, or service to a public servant in connection with the award of this agreement."

What a joke, he pays for the board's drinks, meals, and taxis. Apoco no Baldita. Haber defiendete. Aunque sea anonimamemte.

Anonymous said...

Corruption in action.

Anonymous said...

you should call Baltazar Salazar, bro. Slacking off? Or just fucking chicken?

Anonymous said...

Chinguen su madre todos estos pendejos. Valen verga! Salazar parece un bofo. Desgraciado!

BOB said...

HOW ABOUT THE SALARY AJUSTMENTS APPROVE BY JOE BLOW RODRIGUEZ AND DR. ESPERANZA ZENDEJAS BEHIDE CLOSE DOORS for BOARD Secretary, DR. ESPERANZA ZENDEJAS Secretary and for the Board Receptionist Secretary.

HOW ABOUT THAT!!

BUS DRIVERS GET $00.20 RAISE PER HOUR
TEACHERS $30.00 RAISE PER MOUNTH
BOARD SECRETARY $8000.00 PER YEAR
SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE !!

Anonymous said...

Desezperanza must leave before she gets more tangled up in the web of crimes, she is a smart woman that would do the right thing, that's why she is applying.

Anonymous said...

Donald Trump is right, the system is corrupt even at this level... Unbelievable !!!!! Why can't we just let the voters decide and stop interfering.

Anonymous said...

HOW ABOUT THE SALARY AJUSTMENTS APPROVE BY JOE BLOW RODRIGUEZ AND DR. ESPERANZA ZENDEJAS BEHIDE CLOSE DOORS for the BOARD Secretary, DR. ESPERANZA ZENDEJAS Secretary and for the board Secretary receptionist.

HOW ABOUT THAT!!

Anonymous said...

Where in the HELL is the FBI, the Texas Rangers! Brownsville BISD cops and its Chief are worthless. How much more time do you need on the sidelines & allow this blatant corruption go on before you start doing something about it?.."To Preserve and Protect" our communities. How about Operation Clean Sweep!

Anonymous said...

I remember Hector gonzales and dr. Carl montoya really involved in the board politics. This lady is not as involved as the others were. Montoya was going to all the pachangas and pachangos.

bob said...

This old man and me, were at the bar and we / Were having us some beers talking politics.

YES, IT WAS DR. CARL MONTOYA BAD ASS SUPERINTENDENT WE BOTH AGREEED
AND SAID.............

THAT GOD IS GREAT
BEER IS GOOD
AND
BISD PEOPLE ARE FUCKING CRAZY !!

HE MISSES ALL THE PACHANGAS HERE IN BROWNSVILLE.
P.S.
WE HAD A GOOD TIME THANKS TO BALTAZAR SALAZAR HE PICK UP THE TAB.

rita