By Juan Montoya
When he was one of several Cameron County Republicans being considered for appointment to the 357th Judicial District Court, attorney Oscar X. Garcia – as were the other candidates – was asked that if Gov. Rick Perry appointed him whether he would run for reelection as a Republican.
He said he would.
Well, that was until the Texas Senate had confirmed his appointment.
Now, it appears, he will instead run as a Democrat when his election comes up in 2014.
Perry appointed Garcia in April to replace Judge Leonel Alejandro, a Democrat, who announced his retirement in December amidst his involvement in the Abel Lima's racketeering scandal. Garcia will be sworn in Friday.
Garcia, who said he was raised a Democrat, said he has been a Republican for the past 20 years.
He explained his decision to switch parties to a news daily in this manner: “Our mission is to provide the court with a judge who has integrity and is fair and impartial,” Garcia said in an interview Friday. “And the best way for us to continue that mission, and the best opportunities for the people in the county to have a chance to elect us is to run in the Democratic Party.”
Garcia said that his defection to the Democrats followed a meeting with former Cameron County Judge and county democratic chairman Gilberto Hinojosa. Hinojosa is now the Texas Democratic Party chairman.
Garcia, 50, said after speaking with Democratic leaders, including Texas party chairman Gilberto Hinojosa, Hinojosa, who lost to Republican Carlos Cascos and was the party chairman when Cascos beat John Wood, the party's candidate, said he felt it was the right thing to do in Cameron County, where Republicans traditionally have struggled to make inroads.
Hinojosa said he had congratulated Garcia on his nomination by Perry, and “then I told him, 'You cannot win if you run as a Republican,' so I encouraged him to switch parties, which is part of my job.”
“In a judicial race it really needs to be about the right person for the job than the political party,” Garcia said. “There's no commitment either way; the governor is concerned with having a good judge in the 357th judicial district.”
Late last week Garcia said he had yet to make a formal announcement of his decision, or inform the governor's office.
Hinojosa said he had congratulated Garcia on his nomination by Perry, and “then I told him, 'You cannot win if you run as a Republican,' so I encouraged him to switch parties, which is part of my job.”
“In a judicial race it really needs to be about the right person for the job than the political party,” Garcia said. “There's no commitment either way; the governor is concerned with having a good judge in the 357th judicial district.”
Late last week Garcia said he had yet to make a formal announcement of his decision, or inform the governor's office.
The San Antonio Express-News reported that a spokesman for the governor's office said about its choice of Garcia: “With each judicial vacancy, our office conducts a thorough review and we select an individual who is best suited to serve the local community.”
Frank Morris, Cameron County chairman of the Republican Party, said he received an email from Garcia announcing his plans to run for district judge as a Democrat.
“I was very sad to hear it,” Morris said, “because I was under the impression from my prior conversations with him that he was going to run as a Republican.”In 1995, Garcia ran against Hinojosa for county judge and lost.
13 comments:
Why do people vote for these guys when it is clear they are democrats in name only? They jump parties not because they believe in the principles of the democratic party but because they think they have a better chance of getting elected. They do not have the courage of their convictions and they are disloyal. If you vote for one of them do not think you are voting for a democrat. That the democratic party even accepts them says as much about the local party as it does about the turncoat candidate. By the way, if this guy at any time thinks it is in his best interest to switch again he will do it. He doesn't care about your interests or else he would not be trying to deceive you by pretending he is suddenly going to represent the issues of the democratic party.
Judge Garcia is a good man.
He is a dishonorable man and that is one qualification to be a Democrat Judge in Cameron County.
What do you mean a "good man"...he's a lawyer for Christ sakes; no backbone, would sell you out for profit and shoots before he asks questions. Now he changes parties for convenience, I forgot, he’s also two faced and makes Limas look like an angel. What a judge he’ll make??? Puro compadrismo con este cuate, pero me gusta porque tiene cara de putito!!!!!
What Republicans vouched for Garcia? Perhaps we should purge them. Like Rollie Olvera, who also switched parties, it is only to get re-elected in Cameron County.
Then they become part of the corruption of the Democratic Party. No evidence that any have had to huevos to challenge the Democratic Party and its corruption.
Valley residents have been conditioned to think only Democrats help them out when in reality, Democrats keep them poor and uneducated. I'm not surprised he's running as a Democrat. Anyone that wants to win an election would run as a Democrat in the valley.
This guy sold my case to an American lawyer 20 years ago,
I lost $400,000
Oscar X Garcia is calm, level-headed, intelligent, independent, not part of the old clika, and most importantly trustworthy. He will make a fine judge.
Those of you that are criticizing him do not know him.
Hasn't even taken oath of office and already proving he has no conviction, no integrity. What a bunch of fucked up officials in this county.
Well, Gloria Rincones, you just got my vote!
puro cool arrow for switching vote for someone elsa, cool aid
Judge Garcia is good man. For What?
This guy is as unethical as any of the Dumbokrats.
hahahahahahahah, he is hanging around the courthouse like a pendejo waiting for people talk to him. What a loser es un PENDEJO.
I would have given him an opportunity if he had stuck to his values but, I realized he has no values, just another corrupt judge looking for a job because he cannot make it on his own. Que lastima the injustice continues.
What republicans have vouched for Oscar: Frank Morris, Norma Tovar, Eddie Padron, Winifred Marshall, Bill de la O, Chris Davis, etc. Every Republican party lackey saw him as the second coming. He changed parties because the rich republicans wouldn't give him the money he wanted. He has been promising republicans he will flip back if he wins.
Who's the pendejo who thinks a judge needs to be a republican or democrat maybe Ricones
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