WHO ME, A CONGRESSMAN? AW SHUCKS!

By Juan Montoya

For Rene Oliveira so loved the world...
that he will continue to sacrifice his personal life and time to continue serving us undeserving citizens of his state representative district and try to feather his nest by creating a new congressional district where he won't have to fight against Solomon Ortiz.

Chanting the mantra that more than a quarter of a century of selfless public service just hasn't been enough to do all the things he wants to do for us, Rene is again offering himself as the sacrificial lamb to atone for our sins.

Pleeeeze!
More and more, Oliveira sounds like those other perennials Solomon Ortiz and Eddie Lucio who, not content with having gored their ox at our expense, keep coming back to the trough for more. Now we even have better and improved versions of Ortiz and Lucio fighting for the public teat. Is another Oliveira not far behind?

A former student at UT remembers talking to Rene during his college stint there and recalls that Rene (and his family) had it all planned way in advance. He would get a law degree, go home, run for public office and become a state representative. Now, apparently, our fecund and fertile population has presented new opportunities and he is ready to offer his services with the establishment of a new congressional district.

One question: Just how much time is enough for an elected official to accomplish his election promises? Apparently 26 years is not enough. Late bloomer, that Rene.

“I've made the decision to run again without hesitation. I offer proven experience and leadership in these tough economic times," he told the Rio Grande Valley Guardian. "My goals are to bring more representation to the Valley, continue investing properly in education, creating jobs, and keeping Texas safe.”

The new census figures will be in after 2010, just a year before the 82nd legislative session starts in Jan. 2011. Brownsville's population has grown 26 percent since the last census was taken in 2000.

Oliveira is the eighth ranking member of 150 members of the Texas House. He represents House District 37 which encompasses the majority of Brownsville, Port Isabel, Laguna Vista, Bayview, and part of northern Los Fresnos.

Doubtless, Oliveira will be re-elected, if not for his accomplishments like the foisting of the University of Texas System upon the backs of the taxpayers of the Texas Southmost College district, then for the weight carried by his last name. Long after he's left office – and this world – our grandchildren will still be subsidizing the UT-TSC partnership with local taxes instead of being helped out by the oil and gas of the Permanent University Fund as are other universities.

That was part of the deal worked out by Oliveira and the Cardenas-Garcia clans to bring the prestigious UT name to Brownsville.

Come to think of it, if Rene does go to Washington, we may be spared another such act of courageous self-sacrifice. Hmmm.