SOROLA CRIES FOUL, CASCOS FETES HIS DEMOCRATIC OPPONENT

By Juan Montoya
When Tony Garza, the first Republican county judge since Reconstruction, pulled off an upset of Ray Ramon in 1988, he did so with the endorsement of three Democrats sitting with him on the county commission. Garza went on to reelection before leaving office midway through his term to join then-Texas Governor George W. Bush as his Secretary of State.
When Garza left, he earned the scorn and disdain of die-hard Republicans like Frank Yturria and GOP chairman Frank Norris who though that he was putting his personal political aspirations above the task of solidifying a true two-party system in this traditional Democratic stronghold.
The lines between Democrats and Republicans have often been blurred in this county.
After all, after being appointed as a district judge two separate times by Republican Gov. Rick Perry, Rolando Olvera decided to join the Democrats and run for his current district judge position. He was welcomed by then Democratic chairman Gilberto Hinojosa and won office easily over other candidates who had been lifelong Democrats.
Likewise, there are candidates running for office this go-round in the Democratic primary who have identified themselves with the Republicans all their political lives.

But where does the fraternizing between politicians of different parties end? Or does it? 

Take, for example, the 2012 Annual Carnitas and Chicharrones "event" being hosted by Republican Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos at his ranch at his Rancho De Mis Hijas off Leal Road in La Paloma. Carrying a $20 entry fee, the annual "Running of the Pigs" makes no mention of its decidedly political nature.

The hosts are listed as Cascos and Cameron County Tax Assessor-Collector Tony Yzaguirre, an anchor  Democrat who's held offie for more than two decades.

Normally, in an off-election year, this might not have created much of a stir. However, Yzaguirre does have a Republican opponent this year. Local bookkeeper Moses Sorola has signed on to be the Republican party banner carrier who, if successful, will face off Yzaguirre in the November general election.

Now, the ticket-invitation does not carry any notice of whether this will be a fundraiser for either man, or whether it is only a get together between friends. Yzaguirre often hosts parties such as this at his home on Honeydale Street and makes no bones about it that they are meant to buttress his considerable political campaign war chest.

In the case of the "Running of the Pigs," shoobang, there is no notice that it is a fundraiser for anyone. Neither is there a political disclaimer on the ticket. We know that Cascos has just gone through a grueling election with John Wood, his political Democratic rival last year, which he barely survived by a 69-vote margin. In other words, it took all the Republicans plus not-few Democrats to push him over the top after a month-long drama over double-counted votes, uncounted ballots, missing boxes, and suspicious midnights counts at the courthouse by Hinojosa and Wood adherents.

Through it all, loyal Republicans like Sorola supported Cascos as he attempted to undo the vexing counts and recounts vis-a-vis Hinojosa and the courthouse crowd.

"Wood came to ask me for his help and I told him I couldn't because I was going to help Cascos," fumed Sorola. "Now he's hosting the affair with my opponent. I expected more loyalty from him like we've shown him when he ran."

Sorola said that he has made his displeasure known to everyone from Cascos, his brush-fire specialist Cris Valadez, and Republican county chairman Frank Norris. 

"Cascos is going to run for something else again," said Sorola. "If he's going to coddle up to my Democratic opponent, he shouldn't expect to get my support next time he runs. I'm not talking as his friend. I'm talking as a candidate."

The revoltura of parties is constant here.

Not long ago we heard that Valadez, Cascos' administrative assistant, former PUB board member, and a candidate for countywide office himslef, was beating the hustings for Cameron County District Attorney Artmando Villalobos in his bid for the new congressional district created for this year's elections. Many wonder how a Republican county judge's assistant can be supporting Villalobos against the eventual Republican candidate.

"It's getting to be so you can't tell what's what," said a courthouse coffee-shop regular Tuesday morning. "All you know is that if someone comes and pats you on the back, be careful because he might be holding a knife."