STORIES BITE PENA, RUSHES TO TAX OFFICE

By Juan Montoya

A day after Ernie Hernandez, his opponent in the runoff election for Cameron County commissioner for Precinct 2, ran an ad in the local daily accusing him of being delinquent on his property taxes, Ruben Peña dutifully marched to the county tax man and paid his dues.

Peña, whose tax bill was spiraling toward $10,000 and included one in Harlingen delinquent since 2008, was apparently stung by the revelations published in the paper and in the local blogs.

The county doesn't have a policy, as do the cities of Harlingen and San Benito, that one must be current on all property taxes and not owe the entity any money to run for office.

Still, the fact that the matter was publicized surely was a factor in the candidate scurrying Monday to Tony Yzaguirre's Cameron County Tax Assessor-Collector's office on Harrison Street to make his payment.

"He came in Monday and took care of the outstanding bills due on eight of the nine properties," said a tax office worker. "There is only one account that remains outstanding, but I believe that he had made arrangements with the lawyers to pay."

That property is three lots in the Harlingen Original Townsite and is appraised at nearly $200,000. It is listed under the ownership of Sanchez-Pena Enterprises.

The State Comptroller's Office lists the officers of Sanchez-Pena Enterprises as Irma and Ruben Pena, 28213 Palm Court Blvd., Harlingen.

In his campaign ads, Pena has promised to fight high appraisals by the Cameron County Appraisal District and said he had appealed the district's decisions to the Texas Supreme Court successfully. It is unknown if he has appealed the appraisal on the delinquent account.

Property taxes are due in January of every year. Those who don't pay in January are assessed a 7 percent penalty interest in February, and a 2 percent per month penalty for each month afterwards until June.

"In July we start charging them attorneys' fees to pay the delinquent tax collection law firm to try to collect the delinquent tax," the worker said. "If you want to avoid the fees, you have to come in and make arrangements with us to pay."

Are there more revelations coming in this runoff contest?

Vela, who carries heavyweight political connections with the Vela family (Blanca, former Brownsville mayor, Filemon, her late husband and federal judge, and the Velas in Harlingen like Mo, former county judge and Manny, fomer Democratic Party chairman) will probably take the hit and hope to weather the storm until the election on April 13.

But don't be surprised if either candidate is blindsided as we head for the stretch. Politics is Cameron County have become an art form. You think you're shadow boxing when you take a sucker punch.