ZAVALETA: MAS VALE DIABLO CONOCIDO QUE DIABLO POR CONOCER

By Juan Montoya

We've thought about it long and hard and have come up with our decision.

We support other blogs in town in their endorsement of Dr. Tony Zavaleta in his quest for the City Commission District 4 seat.

He is truculent at times, opinionated, even stubborn. But then again, which Zavaletas aren't?

But as we enter this new Tony Martinez administration it is obvious that a supermajority has developed surrounding the Martinez cult. He hasn't given Zavaleta money and neither has his son Trey. That, for us, is enough proof that they don't relish the thought of Zavaleta – a recognized authority on local matters – in their midst.

Zavaleta's opponent in the runoff John Villarreal is a neophyte to city politics. In his interview with the Brownsville Herald it was telling that he wouldn't venture into a statement of the planks in his platform saying only that once in office he would "prioritize" them.

This is unacceptable. We need to know where he stands on the issues affecting the city. We need to know now what to expect from him before we vote.

His documented ties to Cameron County Commissioner Ernie Hernandez speaks volumes. We don't look forward to have yet another compromised candidate on the city commission more than we already have.

Zavaleta, on the other hand, came firmly on the side of the rehabilitation of downtown Brownsville, the improvement of his West Side neighborhoods and the creation of jobs for the residents of the city.

PK Patel, one of the contenders fot he position will not openly endorse Zavaleta although he has said he supports him. But, Wadhwani (or Wani), the Godfather of the East Asian community in Brownsville, will openly endorse Zavaleta in upcoming publications. That alone speaks volumes about the trust thsi economically-active segment of the city has in Zavaleta's candidacy.

Many will try to paint Zavaleta as an active participant in the scam that UTB's president Juliet Garcia has perpetrated against the residents of the TSC district. But if this was true, he wouldn't have been sent packing from his assistant provost position.

Others, notably Michael Putegnat, have been scavenging for years under her protective mantle and remain there. If anything, Zavaleta did not prove to be as malleable as others to do her bidding and cut him loose.

This alone, is enough for us to think that Zavaleta will be an independent voice for his district's (and the city's) residents in the Martinez Juggernaut to come for the next four years.

It is doubtful that Villarreal will stand up to United Brownsville, the continuing drain of economic development dollars for the Sports Park, or advocate strongly for a different approach to our economic development.

Yes, Zavaleta advertises with us. He will until June 18, the day of the election.

But this alone doesn't mean that we don't have any convictions that a $100 ad will, erase. Or, for the constant critics, the alleged breaded shrimp plate.

Some of us actually do care about the future of our city and its neighborhoods. Zavaleta has dedicated his life to uplifting the state of education here and has deep roots – deeper than most of us – here. It is unimaginable to us that he would trade off that heritage and principles for anything but what is best for the city.

Without talking down his opponent, a well-meaning but untested candidate, we have to go with Zavaleta on this one.