THE FIREFIGHT HAS STARTED IN THE CAMERON COUNTY DA'S RACE

By Juan Montoya
It's not even 2012 yet and the period to declare a candidacy for the various contested posts has been extended to February, but that hasn't stopped the early birds from going after the proverbial worm. In this case, the targets appear to be the candidates for Cameron County District Attorney.

Whether it's commenters to blogs reminding us of the troubled regime of Luis Saenz, the alleged ties of Carlos Masso to 8-line (maquinita) operators, or Maria De Ford's remaining in the DA's office after she declared her candidacy months ago, the trickle  of disclosures will probably increase to a torrent in the days to come.

The candidacy of Masso has drawn the first fire. We are in receipt of a manila folder chock full of information that indicates Masso is either related to, or has received contributions from owners/operators of 8-liner establishments in Brownsville and Olmito. Further, newspaper clippings included in the packet indicate that the same owner-operator (his nephew Rick Masso) has been the object of attention of local law enforcement for operating these type of businesses.

Masso has denied any knowledge of his relatives' involvement in these enterprises and to be perfectly fair, the mere operation of these proliferating businesses is not illegal. It is the payment of cash prizes that is prohibited.

A newspaper clipping dated Dec. 23, 2007 from the Brownsville Herald indicates that in Sept. 2004,  "convicted felon Ricardo Masso, 25, was arrested for connections to the 777 Arcade at 7077 N. Expressway 77. His wife, Esther Francisca Murua, 30, also was arrested."

The newspaper article identifies the younger Masso as the nephew of Carlos Masso, the now-DA candidate and commissioner with the Brownsville Navigation District. Candidate MAsso "contends," the article continues, "that he is not familiar with his relatives' arcade operations."

A Cameron County Sheriff's Dept. case report dated less than a month ago on Dec. 12 indicates that one Ricardo Masso (identified by the packet preparers as Masso's brother) reported to an investigating deputy that he was the owner of the 36 arcade game consoles stolen from the 777 Arcade at 6656 FM 1732 in Olmito, Tex., where the renter, one Maria Silva Garza, had reported a break-in.  

Now, the Cameron County Appraisal District identifies ER Vending as the owner of the property at 6656 FM 1732 and another arcade at 5575 FM 802. The proprietors of ER Vending in the DBA (doing business as) documents at the Cameron County Clerks office are listed as Ester Murua and Ricardo Masso (Rick?).

To make matters worse, in the last reporting period for candidates' financial reports from Feb. 1 to July 15, there is one contributor of  $1,500 to Masso's campaign listed as Rick Masso with an address at 3254 Boca Chica.

The overriding questions the preparers of the packet ask is how the same business owners that were arrested in connection with the 8-liner businesses continue to operate seven year later and whether Masso is a recipient of political contributions from these businesses.
These same questions will no doubt be raised to a greater detail as the campaign for the Democratic primary gathers steam. We just wonder what the other campaigns have found in their search for skeletons in their opponents closets.