WOOD'S KITCHEN CABINET FULL OF HINOJOSA LEFTOVERS

By Juan Montoya
We have just been apprised of some of the characters that would be players in the new administration that John Wood wants to bring into county government should he prevail in November.
Some are old, and some are new. But most of them have a distinct tie to the previous county administration of Gilbert Hinojosa.
In and around candidates' pachangas, there is a consensus that George Merril, of Harlingen, is Wood's choice f0r his chief of staff. Merril ran an unsuccessful campaign for Harlingen mayor this last go-round and has repeatedly told all within earshot that he would have won if Carlos Cascos had shown him his support.
Of course, Cascos is not cut from the same cloth as was Hinojosa who did not hesitate to introduce his influence in the politics of the county's municipalities if he saw some political gain to be had either in the present or in future political contests.
Another name that has surfaced is that of former Brownsville Navigation District commissioner and ad guru Evelon Dale as the county's grant writer. Dale is running Wood's media campaign and is responsible for the grainy photos of Wood which make him look like he's wearing an Afro.
And, making as reappearance as "Community Liaison" is none other than Silver Garcia, the mayor of the metropolis of Combes. You remember Silver, he held that position in the Hinojosa administration and earned a hefty salary compliments of the county taxpayers. What he did or what communities he "liaisoned" with was never disclosed. However, he still yearns for the good old days when Gilbert dispensed patronage and paid for it from county coffers.
Maggie Carranza, currently working in Wood's Precinct 2 office, reappears as Bro Wood's executive secretary. You remember Maggie. She was on the staff of Gil's Emergency Management Dept. and was recently prohibited from dispensing free notary public services at Cameron Park on Wood's behalf as she had been doing for the last seven years.
Another holdover form the Hinojosa era is former Emergency Management Coordinator Tom Hushen. Hushen is also a city commissioner from Harlingen who has thrown his weight behind wood in hopes he will snare the EMC position again.
And who can forget the affable (and overpaid) Remi Garza? You remember Remi. Before he left, Hinojosa tailored a position for him within the county administration, only to have Cascos abolish the post. He has been promised the county administrator position now held by Pete Sepulveda. Coming from a prominent San Benito family (his father, a doctor, and mother Yolanda, an attorney), Remi was soundly defeated by David Garza for commissioner of Precinct 3. As administrator, Remi could wreak havoc in Garza's road and bridge precinct.
And last, and least, we have Jarred Hockema, who was yet another assistant under Hinojosa and now clings to the Wood coattails for the position of assistant county administrator under Remi.
So there you have it. In Spanish, the applicable term would be that it's "La misma gata, solo revolcada."