JULIETTE LURKING BEHIND THE SCENE IN TSC RACES

By Juan Montoya

At first blush, UTB-TSC President Juliette Garcia looks like your quintessential spinster aunt.

There she is glad-handing the chess players and congratulating them on their second-place finish in this weekend's tournament.

Now she's there with her hardhat and a gold-plated shovel initiating yet another monument on the campus at the expense of local taxpayers.

But what we don't see is what she does behind closed doors at the old Ft. Brown brick building doubling as her president's office.

This weekend we had a chance to visit Francisco "Kiko" Rendon at his chicken BBQ rally at Los Trevi, a drive-thru convenince store located at 605 Central Blvd., near the intersection with Elizabeth Street. Rendon, a local construction contractor, is a candidate for TSC trustee, Place 5. The event was well attended and people were seen streaming in and out with plates of grilled chicken and beans to take home.

Rendon is running against incumbent Rosemary Breedlove and Army Reserve Capt. Rene Coronado. At first Rendon thought he would only have to deal with Breedlove, the administration's candidate. But on the last day to file, Coronado pulled out of the Place 3 slot where Joe Lee Rubio was running because he thought Rubio would be able to be on the ballot.

When Rubio was disqualified by TSC attorneys, Rendon found himself facing both Breedlove and Coronado.

Rubio has appealed the decision to the Texas Supreme Court, which is still pending.

"I had hoped there wouldn't be the possibility of a runoff in this race," Rendon said. "But now with Rene in the race, the possibility that the vote will be split and Breedlove will benefit is very real. Oh, well. We'll just have to work a little harder."

Enter Juliette.

One Rendon supporter in attendance at the BBQ was a student-government leader who helped the the UTB-TSC president ram through the $68 million bond issue in an election. Now disillusioned at how the administration has used the local people to finance their dreams of grandeur with the bond money, he is committed to defeat Garcia's hand-picked candidate in the Rendon-Breedlove-Coronado contest.

He said Garcia had called him into her office to ask if he could help her get Breedlove reelected. When he told her he had already committed to Rendon, Garcia reportedly admonished him and told him he should reconsider because he might be making a mistake.

"I'm sorry, but I won't be able to help you this time," the student said he told Garcia.

When Rendon heard that Garcia was getting personally involved in the upcoming election, he said he was disappointed.

"I don't think it's appropriate for the college president to get involved in an free election that will determine who will be on the board that tells her what to do," he said between greeting visitors at the event. "We are for letting the voters decide who they want on the board. President Garcia shouldn't be making the decision for them."

In the Place 4 race, Trey Mendez, a local attorney, is facing Eduardo Rodriguez, seen by many as Juliette's pick for her slate.

In the Place 3 race, Dr. Robert Lozano, a neurologist, will face Robert Lopez, director of administrative services for Cameron County.

"I think Juliette hears the footsteps behind her and is getting nervous," said one of the campaign workers at the Rendon rally. "But a candidate shouldn't have to run against his opponents and against the administration, too. It's like using our own money to back our opponent."