Wednesday, May 3, 2017

EARLY-VOTE RULE OF THUMB: LESS THAN 6,000 VOTES


By Juan Montoya
The Cameron County Elections Office reported that – not counting mail-in votes – 3,529 voters had cast ballots during the early voting period for three seats on the City of Brownsville Commission.
As had been noted previously, the rule of thumb for predicting the turnout in local elections holds that 60 percent of the votes are cast during this period.

We are not mathematicians here, but we found the formula online and the 3,529 votes cast are 60 percent of 5,881, a little less than 6,000. Based on this formula, it predicts that 2,352 votes will be cast on Saturday, Election Day. If we count the mail-in votes, the formula doesn't change much. The Cameron County Elections Dept. says voters requested 267 mail-in ballots and that they have received 186 so far. The department counts all mail-in ballots received by the time the polls close on election day.

We hope we are wrong about the turnout. In a city with 84,849 registered voters, it is a pity that less than seven percent will decide the outcome of their political representation.

There are many issues crying out for solutions in Brownsville. There have been excesses on the part of the incumbents who are trying to remain in office as part of Mayor Tony Martinez's majority. This administration has been characterized by its arrogance of power. Decisions encumbering the people with millions in debt have been done without consulting them for their approval. The fact that the city does not allow public comment to be aired on the city's channel is but one indication of the haughtiness that prevails at City Hall. They are telling the residents, in short, that they own the public airwaves, and not the people.

An opportunity to dispossess Martinez of a majority and return the government to the people has presented itself in this election. It's time to get a city commission that looks out for the interest of the people and discard city commissioners who look out for theirs and their friends. We would be remiss if we don't seize the day.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

People in Brownsville register for the county wide elections or national elections...in the ones that don't tax them directly, and then ask who is running in the city. The registered voters cannot be counted on to win a city election....most do not even know who is running. The Herald offers that info and so maybe we need to check on the voters who read the Herald.

Anonymous said...

Nothing will ever change. Brownsville is not written into God's Book of Life. It was cast into the Lake of Fire a long time ago. Ben Neece is the walrus.

Anonymous said...

McAllen and San Antonio are full of money laundering fugitives - we're not in such a bad place.

Anonymous said...

186 mail votes! Guau! Herminia is working overtime for Ben Neece!

Anonymous said...

Bruciak and Cabler run the city. Campriano runs The Port Of Brownsville. End of story. Love Captain Bob

Anonymous said...

We hope that the citizens of Brownsville who are registered voters exercise their constitiutional right and vote on Saturday. There is too much at stake to just sit idle and do nothing. Do we really need another four years of wasteful spending of tax payers monies? Just remember the purchase of La Casa Del Fraude, I mean Nylon, and Tenasaka deal just to name a few when casting your votes. We need to oust the incumbent city commissioners running for re-election with new leaders that will bring transparency and good management of public funds. Get out and vote.

Diego lee rot said...

Maybe this is off topic but I just got a big shipment of African coffee in. Really fire shit. Hit me up!

Anonymous said...

DA BLIMP is out of town. Somebody close the door so he can't get back in!!!!!! ha ha ha. Ugly vato. Ugliest. Ugleeeeeeeeeeee

Anonymous said...

Hey, Diego, we'll pay you to go visit Togo, like BEN NEECE did. Interested? ha ha ha

Anonymous said...

Your existence is off topic, pendejo! Go post your nonsense on your dad's blog, you stupid junkie .

Anonymous said...

How is Aguas' auto accident case coming along in court? I understand that he ran into another car and injured the driver. Now his insurance does not want to pay for the other driver's injuries, WTF?

Anonymous said...

The priority of this city commission is downtown rehabilitation. Nothing else is on their agenda, Noticed how 6th was redone by the Zoo, in fact, they reduced the street for bike lines. Take notice of what they are doing to Ringgold st in front of the Zooo, again street reduction. Jackson st between 6th street to Palm Blvd reduced for bike lanes as well. Same thing happend to 7th strret, reduced for bike lanes. This considering that the bike trail is right next door and it extends for 9 miles all the way to fm 511. Market Square being rebuilt who knows who is going to utilize it, for sure not for city offices. The Stagmant building, being renovated for milions of dollars for what? San Fernando building, renovated for what? The Young house on 5th street, renovated, for who? The old mother of perpetual home, being renovated for what? Next is La Casa Del Nylon, millions of dollars needed for renovation, it is evident that there are special interest groups that will benefit from all of this. I wonder what building the city commission plans to renovate next, Gutierrez Warehouse? It is high time for new leaders, Neece, Garza and Castro will turn the priorities to the right direction.

rita