MARTINEZ AND TOP DEMOS WERE BANKING ON LIMAS KEEPING 404TH

By Juan Montoya

If ever there was a supporter of the discredited (and convicted felon now) Abel Limas, it was current Brownsville Mayoral candidate Tony Martinez, his son and partner Trey, his law partner Horacio Barrera, and the principals in the Democratic Party.

Other prominent attorneys close to the disgraced jurist are also listed in his contributors' list during his last campaign for the March 4, 2008 election for the Democratic nomination to the 404th District Court. Political contribution reports for the period from July 10 to December 31, 2008 show that Limas – the incumbent – raised $59,150 for his grudge match against Elia Cornejo-Lopez, a formidable campaigner.

During that period, Limas received $2,500 on Nov. 26 from the firm of Juan Magallanes and Gilberto Hinojosa. Hinojosa is the chairman of the Democratic Party.

Trey Martinez, Tony's son, gave Limas $1,250 on October 2. Trey Martinez was also a close Limas's advisor during the campaign.

Ruben Peña, the loser against Ernie Hernandez for the Democratic party nomination for Cameron County Commissioner of Precinct 2 gave Limas $1,250 on October 17, and the law firm of Roerig, Oliveira and Fisher gave him an additional $1,000 October 18.

Rene Oliveira is the State Representative for southern Cameron County.

Another attorney rumored to figure as one of the principals in the Limas racketeering case, Mark Rosenthal of Rosenthal and Watson in Austin, proved a good friend of the former judge by giving him $1,400 on July 27, 2007.

Still another former state representative and a figure of interest in the Limas case Jim Solis gave Limas $3,000 on May 20. This created problems for Limas since the limit on contributions by an individual per reporting period was $2,500 and an addendum to his political contribution showed that he had to return $500 to Solis as a result of an excessive contribution.

Solis, it appears, just couldn't give Limas enough.

During the reporting period from Jan. 1, to Jan. 24. Limas reported raising $29,250.

Again, Martinez's law partner Horacio Barrera pitched in an additional $1,500 Jan. 24 while Tony Martinez himself sweetened the pie with a personal donation of $500 on the same day. That day, Jan. 24, was especially profitable for Limas since it was only seven dayhs after the date (Jan. 17) that he held a posh fundraiser at the old Sheraton Inn (now Holiday Inn on the frontage road).

Sponsored by the Martinez, Barrera and Martinez law firm at a cost of $3,274, it drew an additional $1,00 from Ruben Peña and still another $1,00 from Austin lawyer Rosenthal. The primary election that year fell on March 3, and the last political contribution report covers the period from Jan. 25 to Feb. 23.

During that period, Limas raised $36,044 and again Rosenthal kicked in another $2,500 on Jan. 25 to bolster his good friend's campaign for the final push.

Rick Zayas, of Zayas and Hernandez, kicked in an additional $500. Zayas is a former trustee of the Brownsville Independent School District.

An interesting note in the expenditure part of the Limas report is the payments for contract labor to well-known politiquero(a)s in the county.

There are several listed for the Harlingen and Los Fresnos area, but some Brownsville names stand out such as Desi Serrata, Margarita Ozuna, Rose Melendez and Silverio Cisneros. Melendez carries a card she hand out to prospective candidates (victims) identifying herself as a "political activist." Serrata works the Southmost neighborhood and Cisneros works the Salado area in the extreme southeast section of the county.

And of course, Phelps Hollander and Milar, the ad agency of Limas's predilection, was paid thousands each period.

An item of interest is the final report that covered the period from Feb. 24 to June 30, after the March 4 election. With Limas having had to lend himself loans of $12,00 and $20,200 in the course of the race to fend off the Cornejo-Lopez campaign, he was showing a deficit toward the end and sought the help of his friends.

Trey Martinez (Tony's son) kicked in $500 on May 20 to help his friend in distress and Zayas and Hernandez threw in a $2,500 lifeline June 5.

What these numbers clearly show is that the Democratic leadership of Cameron County badly wanted to keep Limas in his position as judge of the 404th and that among those who wanted him to stay and put their money where their mouths were the likes of Solis, Rosenthal, Zayas, and Tony Martinez and his son Trey.

Now will it be said that they were in the company of convicted felon Abel Limas?