By Juan Montoya
The Tony Martinez money machine is churning toward what the Brownsville mayoral candidate believes will be a landslide victory at the polls this Saturday.
But as more and more voters look at his candidacy and his slogan “Believe in Brownsville,” some doubts have emerged about the sincerity of the claim.
Martinez filed his campaign contributions and
expenditure report covering the period from January 1 to April 4 with the city secretary and the facts listed in the report belie the claims that he “believes in Brownsville.”
Of the $72,584.03 that he lists as campaign expenditures for the period, he has spent a full $52,304 with vendors and consultants from outside the city. In fact, the majority of the payments have been made to consultants and advertising companies from Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, and even Pasadena, Calif.
Local advertisers and consultants have gotten a miniscule amount of his expenditures, with the largest expenditure, that with Elite Productions of Brownsville ($2,762.82) made in March 15.
Other local vendors garnered smaller amounts such as Esparza Outdoor Advertising ($2,631) on March 21, and Leticia Carmona ($1,000) on March 28.
Jessica Cerda, a consultant from San Antonio was paid $8,607, was paid more than the three Brownsville vendors combined.
Martinez was much more expansive when it came to doling out a stupendous $25,999.06 during the same period to Austin-based Message, Audience and Presentation.
In March 28, Martinez also hired Pineda consulting of Pasadena, Calif., and paid the firm $7,000. The Rumble Creative Group of San Antonio also was the recipient of Martinez’s largesse on April 4 with a payment of $3,000 for consultant services.
Obviously, Martinez thinks that what these outside consultants tell him will help him convince the voters that he is the right man for the job.
But it also sends a message to local providers and vendors that perhaps Martinez doesn’t think that the local media professionals quite make the cut.
“If he believes in Brownsville why is he investing his campaign budget in other cities?” asked one. “Is this going to be a hallmark of a Martinez administration, to siphon off local moneys to outsiders?”
In the same report, Martinez lists his campaign contributors, and it reads like a who’s who of the usual suspects.
His son “Trey” Martinez, who served as campaign manager for disgraced District 404th District Judge Abel C. Limas weighed in with contributions of $5,000 and $3,500 to help out his dad.
And Terry Ray, who seems to have the inside on most government and university construction projects chipped in another $1,000.
Jim Tipton was a bit more generous with a donation of $5,000. Richard Jaross, of Esco Marine, was able to scrape $1,000. Custom Broker John Cowen (of the Cowen clan) contributed $5,000.
Mary Yturria gave Martinez $500. Frank, always a bit chintzier, gave him $100.
There are several large contributions from shadowy investment groups such as HEWL LLC, with $2,500, a silver contributor to St. Joseph Academy, $5,000 from AEE Investments of Carl Semek, Troy Investments ($5,000) of John W. Drennan, and Wyeth Weidman $1,000) of Austin.
Johnny Cavazos (the local insurance mogul who practically owns the contracts with the BISD) kicked in $2,500. Car dealer Luke Fruia gave Martinez another $2,000. TSC trustee Roberto Robles, who wanted to give away the college district to the UT System, gave Martinez $500, as did Chester Gonzales, a former TSC trustee who was against separation of UTB-TSC.
Oscar Garcia (Juliet’s son and heir apparent to milk the local economy) gave Martinez $3,000. Fred Rusteberg’s IBC Committee Improvement and Betterment of the Country (grandiose, isn’t it?) gave Martinez $2,500. Now, Fred isn’t known for giving away his money, but could this be an incentive for Martinez to allow United Brownsville to keep getting the $25,000 annually from the city, GBIC and BEDC if he gets elected. $2,500 seems like a small investment to allow Rusteberg to continue pulling the economic development strings through his contrived shadow government which is accountable to no one and is permitted access to public funds from local governmental entities.
The list goes on and on.
TSC counsel Dan Rentfro, who unsuccessfully tried to convince the TSC trustees to dissolve the district and give away the assets to the UT System kicked in $250, former TSC trustee Rosemary Breedlove gave Martinez another $500.
Even a Harlingen (?) PAC, PSI, gave Martinez $500. Steve Tomlinson of Austin gave the candidate $1,000, as did Kirk Reedy, a real estate mogul, of Austin.
What does this report tell us?
“Martinez obviously believes his consultants from out of town and judging by the contribution to his campaign, people from out of town also believe they can influence who we elect as mayor of Brownsville,” said a local voter. “Are we going to let them decide who we elect?”
But as more and more voters look at his candidacy and his slogan “Believe in Brownsville,” some doubts have emerged about the sincerity of the claim.
Martinez filed his campaign contributions and
expenditure report covering the period from January 1 to April 4 with the city secretary and the facts listed in the report belie the claims that he “believes in Brownsville.”Of the $72,584.03 that he lists as campaign expenditures for the period, he has spent a full $52,304 with vendors and consultants from outside the city. In fact, the majority of the payments have been made to consultants and advertising companies from Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, and even Pasadena, Calif.
Local advertisers and consultants have gotten a miniscule amount of his expenditures, with the largest expenditure, that with Elite Productions of Brownsville ($2,762.82) made in March 15.
Other local vendors garnered smaller amounts such as Esparza Outdoor Advertising ($2,631) on March 21, and Leticia Carmona ($1,000) on March 28.
Jessica Cerda, a consultant from San Antonio was paid $8,607, was paid more than the three Brownsville vendors combined.
Martinez was much more expansive when it came to doling out a stupendous $25,999.06 during the same period to Austin-based Message, Audience and Presentation.
In March 28, Martinez also hired Pineda consulting of Pasadena, Calif., and paid the firm $7,000. The Rumble Creative Group of San Antonio also was the recipient of Martinez’s largesse on April 4 with a payment of $3,000 for consultant services.
Obviously, Martinez thinks that what these outside consultants tell him will help him convince the voters that he is the right man for the job.
But it also sends a message to local providers and vendors that perhaps Martinez doesn’t think that the local media professionals quite make the cut.
“If he believes in Brownsville why is he investing his campaign budget in other cities?” asked one. “Is this going to be a hallmark of a Martinez administration, to siphon off local moneys to outsiders?”
In the same report, Martinez lists his campaign contributors, and it reads like a who’s who of the usual suspects.
His son “Trey” Martinez, who served as campaign manager for disgraced District 404th District Judge Abel C. Limas weighed in with contributions of $5,000 and $3,500 to help out his dad.
And Terry Ray, who seems to have the inside on most government and university construction projects chipped in another $1,000.
Jim Tipton was a bit more generous with a donation of $5,000. Richard Jaross, of Esco Marine, was able to scrape $1,000. Custom Broker John Cowen (of the Cowen clan) contributed $5,000.
Mary Yturria gave Martinez $500. Frank, always a bit chintzier, gave him $100.
There are several large contributions from shadowy investment groups such as HEWL LLC, with $2,500, a silver contributor to St. Joseph Academy, $5,000 from AEE Investments of Carl Semek, Troy Investments ($5,000) of John W. Drennan, and Wyeth Weidman $1,000) of Austin.
Johnny Cavazos (the local insurance mogul who practically owns the contracts with the BISD) kicked in $2,500. Car dealer Luke Fruia gave Martinez another $2,000. TSC trustee Roberto Robles, who wanted to give away the college district to the UT System, gave Martinez $500, as did Chester Gonzales, a former TSC trustee who was against separation of UTB-TSC.
Oscar Garcia (Juliet’s son and heir apparent to milk the local economy) gave Martinez $3,000. Fred Rusteberg’s IBC Committee Improvement and Betterment of the Country (grandiose, isn’t it?) gave Martinez $2,500. Now, Fred isn’t known for giving away his money, but could this be an incentive for Martinez to allow United Brownsville to keep getting the $25,000 annually from the city, GBIC and BEDC if he gets elected. $2,500 seems like a small investment to allow Rusteberg to continue pulling the economic development strings through his contrived shadow government which is accountable to no one and is permitted access to public funds from local governmental entities.
The list goes on and on.
TSC counsel Dan Rentfro, who unsuccessfully tried to convince the TSC trustees to dissolve the district and give away the assets to the UT System kicked in $250, former TSC trustee Rosemary Breedlove gave Martinez another $500.
Even a Harlingen (?) PAC, PSI, gave Martinez $500. Steve Tomlinson of Austin gave the candidate $1,000, as did Kirk Reedy, a real estate mogul, of Austin.
What does this report tell us?
“Martinez obviously believes his consultants from out of town and judging by the contribution to his campaign, people from out of town also believe they can influence who we elect as mayor of Brownsville,” said a local voter. “Are we going to let them decide who we elect?”
14 comments:
Just when I thought I've seen and heard it all; I just received a "robocall" from a Carlos Garcia who identified himself as being with Brownsville Police. He was asking for my support and vote for Tony Martinez. I'm not sure if this is Chief Garcia but if it is, doesn't this pose somewhat of a conflict having the police chief call the citizenry and ask for the support of a mayoral candidate? Ya ni chingan!
Could the Raza allow the Classless Elite to take over again after all the blood, sweat and tears it has cost us. We will see.
Please remind me again: Who of this bunch is representing "the raza"?
El Rrun Rrun is concerned about people from out of town influencing local politics? Please. What about your Dallas carpebagger? Is it okay for him to influence local politics? Please clarify
Mescalero
GOD PLEASE DO NOT LET THIS FASCIST P. O. S. OF TONY MARTINEZ GET ELECTED!!!!!!!
TYPICAL ASS HOLE DO AS I SAY NOT AS I DO CROWD!!!!!!
BROWNSVILLE WE HAVE BEEN LABLED AS THE 3 DUMBEST CITY OF TH NATION.
IT WILL BE DUMB TO ELECT TONY MARTINEZ!!!!!!
IT WILL BE DUMB TO ELECT EDWARD CAMARILLO!!!!!
IT WILL BE DUMB TO REELECT PAT AHUMADA!!!!!!
I LIKE VITO CARDENAS BUT
A COMMON SENSE CLEAR CHOICE MIKE GARZA A BUSINESS LEADER
Put your money where your community is Tony. I buy my cars, get my health care, and fill up my car in Brownsville. I teach my kids to do the same. Why? For the benefit of BROWNSVILLE.
Get over it Juan, and admit it that regarless of how and who assisted in his campaign, Brownsville deserves a new mayor who is educated, articulate and has a job or had a job. Public office should not be handed over to the uneducated and unemployed individulas who are looking for a hand out. Why fault a man who has worked hard and is smart. We all have the same opportunities...some men take advantage of that opportunity and some men wait for a hand out....it's your choice
Vote Ahumada!
That is what they said about that carpetbagger in Farmers Branch when they were trying to pass legislation that was anti Mexican anti American and he remained steadfast until the federal courts rejected on several occasiions uncostitutional legislation in Farmers Branch. That is also what the racist white folk said in Irving when they deported over 6,000 people mostly for traffic offenses. That carpetbagger stayed in Irving even got arrested but they stopped the massive deportations and won a federal lawsuit changing the illegal manner in which they elected City Council members. That carpetbagger is welcomed in Brownsville.
Do not forget Abe Limas.
We know that Tony Martinez has accepted the support of Gilberto Hinojosa and the Cameron County Dumbokratic and Curruption Party. He has sold his soul and in return he has agreed to help Gilberto Hinojosa in his effort to be elected as State Dumbokratic Party Chair. So, Tony has put himself willingly into the web of corruption for which the Democratic Party of Cameron County is best known. Hate to see Tony Martinez on the same lists with Able Limas, Conrado Cantu, Jim Solis and other Democratic slime. This connection may bite Tony in the butt in this election.
so he spent money with out of town consultants. so what? he won... if that's what it takes, then so be it... I'm all for leaving spending my money here in town when I can, but if I need expertise that's unavailable here, then I go elsewhere to get the best product. TM is a welcome change.. other politicians think brownsville is their whole world. Brownsville is not an island. other politicians use their compadres for everything, instead of seeking out qualified individuals or firms... that's why we are where we are today, because of this compadrismo. i am glad that tm can look beyond his local compadres.
Tony Martinez won. We are in deep doodoo now. Might as well leave town. Get ready for another Obama. Lots of BS, lots of lies, and no action. Except action for the promotion of self-interest and the destruction of the AMERICAN WAY. Brownsville will probably become a sanctuary city (with Oliveira's help), and only allow "undocumented" folks to use plastic bags without paying. What a joke. Like the Blog suggests, Martinez really does not believe in Brownsville, he only believes in himself, Julette, etc., etc. God help us all.
Dude, the point is that this blog decries out of towners having influence in local politics while supporting an out of towner who is trying to influence local politics. The issue is not the out of towner's rightness or wrongness, it is the obvious hypocracy of the blogger.
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