IS FORMER VFW LEADERSHIP CADRE PLANNING A COUP?

By Juan Montoya
As some Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2035 members tell it, when former commander Luis Lucio and his compadres resigned from their posts, the Texas State Comptroller had filed a report on the organization and discovered that there were taxes due on income that hadn't been reported.
There was also the little matter of "salaries" paid to Lucio and some of his inner circle as payments that hadn't been reported to the IRS as income that is now being demanded by the tax collectors.
And, finally, as the organization struggle to straighten out its payments on the $300,000-plus loan used to build the new post on Veterans Drive, it had to refinance the note because the only payments that were being made were on the interest and penalties and not on the principal.

As a new leadership was elected and took over – under Commander Juan Hurtado III – it must now face rumors of a possible coup by those allied with the former leadership said to be planning a takeover from their new hangouts. Reports indicate that the semi-official headquarters are the Southwinds Lounge and the Boss Club.

One attempt had been staged at a prior meeting by was foiled because the move to oust the new group was not placed on the agenda, as required by the VFW bylaws.

Ostensibly, the changes that broke the camel's back were made at the post and included the prohibition of consumption of BYOB liquor brought in from the outside. After, the changes took place, the usual hangers on who patronized the club went looking for other locales where their plastic containers were allowed. The new VFW leadership said that the insurance required for BYOB was not cost-effective since the liquor drinkers did not consume much other than a few bottles of water and ice for their drinks.
Then, on the VFW website and on Facebook postings, the reason the VFW stopped allowing outside alcohol to be brought in is explained.
"Patrons:A note on the liquor liability. Most mainstream insurers would not insure the VFW Post 2035 due to our high risk BYOB (Bring Your Own Bottle/Liquor) policy," it stated. "The risk of liability from patrons dispensing their own... liquor is simply too high to cover and the direct contribution to sales has been small, with many hard liquor drinkers buying only one setup for $2.00 to last hours or even asking for tap water or using ice for their liquor, meanwhile using our electricity, VFW Post 2035 manpower, supplies, space and miscellaneous."
Some members say that the state and national VFW leadership is well aware of the situation facing the Brownsville post and is encouraging the members to move forward. They say that efforts to verify the membership of some veterans should be put aside and continue to serve the veterans on the existing list.
 No one knows what other hurdles are in store for the new VFW leaders, but according to VFW members, the fact that Lucio resigned automatically makes his return as commander impossible under the organization's bylaws.
"It's viewed as if a ship captain left his post," said one. "The rules prohibit his return."
Meanwhile, the veterans are calling on the community for support as the new leadership attempts to set the organization on a sound financial course, a somewhat difficult undertaking in lean economic times.
"We have volunteers coming in and cutting the grass and helping out," said a VFW member. "There is a small core of dedicated, loyal VFW members who are pitching in and helping out. We'll pull though this."