There is a saying that behind every successful man is a hard-working woman.
In the case of Leonel "Leo" Lopez, some of her oponents' supporters say that perhaps his wife – 404th District Court Judge Elia Cornejo-Lopez – may be working just a little too hard.
Lopez is running in the Cameron County Pct. 2 Commissioner's race along with indicted incumbent Ernie Hernandez, and challengers Alex Dominguez and Gerry Linan. Both of these last two are local attorneys and Dominguez is said to be leading the pack in the polls.
Hernandez is a professional politician whose family owns a graphics store. Lopez lists his employment as a professional embalmer and funeral director and states that he is a medical doctor in Mexico. If Leo makes the runoff and is elected, we'll have the novel occurrence of having a sitting district court judge with her husband serving as a county commissioner.
We have heard about the complaints by some of their supporter way back to this past Christmas when Leo and Elia sent out holiday greetings (see photo at left) featuring a photo of the candidate, the judge, and their family on the front. The flip side of the Christmas card was the back side of his political pushcard listing his qualifications and his appeal for the vote for Pct. 2 commissioner (photo below).
However, when we asked Elia about it, she said that she had pre-cleared the card with the appropriate authorities in Austin (The Commission on Judicial Conduct, Secretary of State, etc) who had told her that as long as the literature didn't mention her position as the judge of the 404th, it was not considered an endorsement, and therefore, legally permissible.Now, to some of her opponents' supporters this is a thin line for Elia to walk. They said the judge has been calling local attorneys soliciting their vote and support for hubby. She doesn't have to mention she's a sitting district judge, of course, but if you're an attorney practicing before local courts, it's almost a certainty that you will be in her court one of these days.
In fact, we now have learned that she appears on one of his upcoming televisions spots.
Like we said, it's a thin line to walk between proper and improper conduct of a judge married to a candidate for office. How much can you actually get involved in the race before you step over the line of propriety?
Can you block walk for your husband? Can you solicit homeowners to put his signs on their lawns?
We know of a few homeowners off Los Ebanos near Pace who said they allowed Leo's signs to be put up because "la jueza" asked them permission to do so. Did they do give their permission because they knew she was a judge?
Over the years we have seen Elia work the hustings and no one denies that she is indefatigable and ruthless in her campaigns. If you're going to be a bear, be a grizzly, not a teddy bear, the saying goes. Her race against Abel Limas bears witness to that fact.
So far, there has been no formal complaint filed anywhere and we suspect no one wants to lend their name to file anything against a sitting district judge. Still, given the current backlash this election season against anything that may appear improper on the part of the judiciary, it may be time Elia to step back a bit and reconsider her close involvement in this race.
24 comments:
Elia "lack of common sense" Lopez is a bully in the courtroom and out in public. She abuses her position to make people buy girl scout cookies and now using her position to get votes for her hubby. She is such an idiot on the bench with some of her rulings and then forces those she doesn't like to do her bidding against the best judgment of those in court. It will be interesting if the CCDA keeps tabs on her during this election. She SHOULD stay out of it but she is such an idiot with no common sense that she won't because she thinks she is untouchable. Hey Elia, no more private meetings with that Green guy???
Elia thinks she is a king maker. She is also backing the wacked out duo of SergiomZarate and his wacko in crime wife Dolores zarate. They are used to running on banking someone will get indicted...not their qualifications....cause they don't have any! Elia is also backing Gloria Rincones.....Elia is a busy bee these days.....other camps are aware of what you are doing Elia....they are not as dumb as you think....and for all your co conspirators....you have made your bed...now sleep in it.
Elia Cornejo Lopez's greed is insatiable. I believe there is a tremendous conflict of INTREST if her husband is elected commissioner. He votes on her salary and budget. The husband is known by all to take his marching orders from his wife, she wears the pants in that family. The man has to ask permission to go to the bathroom. Elia will be telling him exactly what to do in the meetings.
Leo doesn't have a chance. Elia has lots of enemies and the other candidates have far more to offer the community than her spouse.
Well I guess if you are so naive as to think that her running, managing and putting the strong arm on people for contributions to his campaign is being too invloved in his campaign, then you should vote for her, I mean him, no, do I mean her, no, I think I mean him. Whatever!!!
Poor Leo is just a puppet without a job, and Elia wants to be powerful, it is time to vote her out
Elia is also helping Gracia, she is involved in all the races because she is power hungry, lets get a good sane lawyer to run against her
ELia is backing Gracia, Rincones and Dolores Zarate. Vote AGAINST all of them.
According to his push-card Leo is a licensed funeral director and licensed embalmer but where does he work?
The guy has not held a job in years, and it is ok to be a house-husband but we all know that Elia is pushing him to get a job and in the process get more power, elia this time it may backfire
Last election she was with Erin and Sylvia Garza Perez now she is running against Ernie and Erin, Erin if i were you i would run against her on the next election
Elia "Corn Hole" Lopez is nothing but a pig who likes to "oink" her way into everything. If she is backing this trio, then she is in for an eye opener. CC voters are onto her. She only wants her husband to run so she can get another check and not pay for his insurance. She has allegedly ripped off people in CC of their houses along with a bonds company and that's how she has made her money. She only got into office because Limas got lazy and only to be convicted for corruption. CC Voters will not vote for her husband or that trio to "spite" her for the crap she has pulled on people. Gracia is a good kid but that's it. Rincones, nothing but a very good puppet. Zarate, who the hell is she? Zarate reminds me of ERin Hernandez, a nobody lawyer.
Magallanes and Gloria rincones are both good qualified attorneys, the one that do not make it this time should run against Elia, i bet they would have massive support
YEP!
Elia "la vagina" Lopez block walk???? More like graze down the block; now that I believe!
Juan you are such a puppet. Any for a beer..................
Elia, princess of the Black Derrière !!!
(Elia thinks she is a king maker)
When you're that hideous, you do what you can to try and keep your man.
Oye Montoya! Isn't it against the Ethics or maybe a law that a seating (using title loosely) District Judge like that Elia person to be campaigning for anybody? I think there is something that keeps her from doing shit like that even though she thinks she can get away with anything?
Wow, looks like another family affair just trying to get on the county tity? taxpayers be ware, you have been warned, right Elia?
Alrighty. First of all. MR. GRACIA is the best candidate in his respective race. And he has nothing do to with this article. Second, anyone that votes for Dolores Zarate........ you obviously have never seen her in court. Lady has NO clue. No idea what she is doing, EVER! Literally, a defense attorney that doesn't even know how to file paperwork. I can't say anything about Rincones, don't know her, best of luck to her. Now for all of you Complaining that Elia is "too involved" PLEASE tell me you've never been "too involved" in supporting or pushing your loved ones to do something. Fundraisers, prom queen, football player, science project, whatever! Everyone always wants their loved one to win and be the best. So what's the big deal she's pushing for a win. Leo is an extremely educated man, don't allow Elia's fierceness to fool you.
We are all involved pushing and supporting our loved ones, but we are not all precinct judges ruled by a code of ethics
I believe every body will support are loved ones no matter what.. Judge Elia never uses her position as district judge always stands by mr. lopez as his wife never mentions who she is I knw for a fact cause when mr. lopez came up to me to tell me that he was runnin for commissioner she never even said a word.. Judge elia is a very professional lady and ontil this point she has prove it she has never bein investigated by no kind of law enforcement. So to me she is a kind of judge we need in office.. So my opinion is theres nothing wrong by judge Elia standing by her husband every candidate does it so I dont knw whats the problem..
Touché
Elia, Elia should be with Abel at the Country Club funded by the Taxpayers.
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