THE SCAMBLE IS ON FOR COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT 2

By Juan Montoya

With eight candidates vying for the Cameron County Precinct 2 commissioner's spot, it's become a horse race as candidates strive to set themselves apart from the pack.

What that means, in a nutshell, is that the campaign is now in full swing with candidates and their supporters doing everything in their power and imagination to attract voters to their wagon.

Two-time city commissioner Ernesto De Leon came up with a novel idea: a Saturday bowling tournament sponsored by local businesses at the Galaxy Bowling lanes. Apparently, the idea appealed to local bowlers because at least 28 teams participated in the affair.

The Bowl-A-Rama carried a pot of $1,400 for the winning team. The lanes were decorated with the names of sponsors like Dr. Azim Zamir, El Clavo Lumber, The Boot Jack, Digital Print, Ebony Lake Health, ALTRE Insurance, Dr. Alexander P. Sudarshan, Lube Plus, Beauties of All Ages, Taquito Express, etc.


The De Leon brothers, Ernesto Jr. and Don, are known locally as "The Mexican Twin Towers" because they loom large over the crowd due to their unusual size. During the tournament they were busy taking photos and holding raffles to raise funds. One of the raffles was held to raise funds to give Christmas gifts to the poor in Matamoros and Valle Hermoso.

Although none of the bowlers matched Rudy Perez's perfect game two nights before, the multi-generational crowd lent the event a family atmosphere. The din of bowling pins and crowd chatter filled the bowling alley and made it near impossible to carry on a regular conversation.

"Some of the people who are with other candidates have told me that we should this one (race) out," said Don. "We think this race is up for grabs. Whoever works hardest will win it. We're going for it and we think we can win this one."

The winning team was the Three Amigos made up of Lulu, Mike Mendoza and Joe. The second-place team was Touchy and Green made up of Cindy Arrellano, Keith Conley and Cindy Gorena.

Across town, Dr. Enrique Escobedo was hosted to a carne asada by Cameron County Tax-Assessor Collector Tony Yzaguirre, a Democratic party bigwig with a large following. Yzaguirre, who regularly hosts fundraisers at $25 a head for himself even when he has no opponenents, is a proven draw for any candidate. The carne asada attracted the faithful at his Honeydale estate and Escobedo hopes that translates into votes in the March 4 primary.

"Tony carries a lot of political weight in Cameron County," Escobedo said. "I am honored that he hosted this event for me. We're going to keep on going right to the end."

And fresh from participating in the annual City of Brownsville Christmas parade, Pastor Victor Alvarez is pulling out all the stops with his new campaign trailer, a rolling, loudspeaker-bedecked affair with appropriate Christmas-New Year greetings posters featuring the good pastor himself.

"We're playing pieces of Jose Feliciano's 'Feliz Navidad' when we go around town," said Alvarez. "We were in the Christmas Day parade and we got a lot of good response from the crowd."

Alvarez said that not only has the average Precinct 2 voter received his candidacy well, but that other churches in the precinct had expressed their support for him.

"They know that I'm not just the candidate from Cameron Park, but that the lessons we have learned there can be applied at the policy level to prevent what happened there from ever happening again."

Alvarez pointed out his membership in regional boards dealing with transportation, health, and education as an example of his long-range vision for the precinct.

Meanwhile, both candidates expressed their sympathy for candidate Leo Garza, who was said to be recovering from a mild stroke. Although he had to go to a local hospital, Garza was recovering at home the next day.

"I pray he recovers and protects his health," Alvarez said. "A $45,000-a-year job isn't worth putting your health in danger."

Likewise, De Leon conveyed his sympathies and well wishes to Garza and said he wished him well.
"We're all friends in this race and I know Leo well," he said. "I wish him all the best."

Everyone knows that four-time commissioner Ernie Hernandez can never be counted out. With 14 years of governmental experience, Hernandez knows the ins and outs of elected office and the electoral process. His use of politiqueras is the stuff of legend.

"We've seen him pull of victories where he had no business even making the runoff," said one. "You can't lose sight of Ernie."

Ruben Pena and Gerry Linan, both attorneys, face an uphill battle proving to voters that they can devote their full time to the position. Alex Resendez, another minister, admits that he doesn't have much of a campaign treasury, but said the people who know him will cast their votes on his behalf.

"We're tired of the same old politics," he said when we ran into him at the library. "Even if we don't win, we can get the winning candidates to listen to our issues and get things done."

With the holiday around the corner and the January deadline to file in the primary races looming, will a ninth candidate appear to join these eight?

Stay tuned.