Sunday, May 18, 2014

MORRIS WAS AT THE ORIGINS OF A 2-PARTY SYSTEM HERE

By  Juan Montoya
Frank Morris, the longtime Cameron County Republican Party chairman who saw first election of a GOP county judge in South Texas and the subsequent election of another has announced he is retiring from his position, at least until June.
Morris, who has been at the forefront of the party for the past three decades, has been the target of a Tea-Party campaign to challenge his chairmanship with the state credential committee at the party's upcoming convention. When contacted by this blog, Morris expressed confidence hat the credential committee – with the assistance of the Hidalgo County GOP contingent – would support his stand on the issue and rule against the Tea-Party contingent.
After a three-decade stewardship, Morris is taking his sabbatical while still at the top of his game.
At the time that Tony Garza became county judge in 1988, the party was still limited to the usual silver -haired ladies and retired farmers who came to South Texas for the weather and the lower cost of living. Morris, to his credit, worked to attract Hispanics to the party, sometimes at the displeasure of the typical Anglo Republican party constituency.
Fielding attractive candidates like Garza and now Oscar X. Garcia for 357th District Court judge, under Morris leadership, a permanent (and solid) 20 to 30 percent bloc of independents have abandoned the Democratic Party "palanca" and stunned political pundits far and wide.
That seminal labor made it possible for Carlos Cascos to win the county judge's seat twice as a Republican.
Garza, who became County Judge in 1988, went on to served as Texas Secretary of State from January 1995 to November 1997 before later being elected as one of the three member board of the Texas Railroad Commission, where he served as chairman.
In 2002, he was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, a position he held until 2009.
When Tony left to seek greener pastures, many loyal Republicans like Frank Yturria chastised him for not remaining as county judge and strengthening the nascent movement. Although Yturria never got over it, Morris continued to court the Hispanic independent vote, sometimes alienating his core base.
We here atEl Rrun-Rrun remember when Morris encouraged Oscar X. Garcia to run for party chairman. A meeting was held at a hotel on South Padre Island where the party's constituents would vote for the candidates.
Garcia, who was seated at the table with Frank and a few other supporters was was conspicuous because the majority of those attending were elderly, white people. Everyone at the Garcia table – except for Morris – were Hispanics.
As each candidate made his or her pitch to be party chair, Oscar prepared himself for his turn. He launched into a Horatio Alger story about lifting himself up by his bootstraps, having a newspaper route as a kid, putting himself through law school, etc. He talked about opening the party, making it one of inclusion, attracting minorities, and so on. 
The crowd nodded politely, heard him out, and then voted to place an elderly silver-haired woman from Laguna Vista as chairman.
"They just don't get it," Morris said as it became apparent that the party's core constituency wanted none of the multicultural stuff that Morris and Garcia had to offer.
That was way back then. Morris – to his credit – was there at the origins when the seeds of a viable two-party system fist came to Cameron County. If just for that, he leaves the field better than when he found it.     

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Political advertisement paid for by Adela Garza.

Anonymous said...

The problem that the GOP has presently has now is that it has evolved into a negative political agenda. The GOP has highly demonstrated that it is hostile to minority citizens, women , civil rights, economically poor and sick folks, the party refuses to ignore science , science research, hindered advances in education , blocked funds for the general welfare of the United States, etc. It is not the Grand Old Party anymore . It has become an ideological political ranting organization.

Anonymous said...

Adela Garza is entitled to her political views. I understand she is a trustee at TSC Junior College.

Anonymous said...

It is the corruption of the Democratic Party and the corrupt leadership of Gilberto Hinojosa...along with people like Conrado Cantu, Able Limas, Armando Villalobos, Ernie Hernandez, Jim Solis, et al that has led to the election of Republican alternatives; not Frank Morris. Frank has benefited from that corruption.....not that he has done much. Just the fact that we have an Anglo in that position is problematic due to the Anglo-phobia in the RGV. The Republican Party needs Hispanic leadership. Unfortunately, most local Republicans refuse to come out of the "political closet" due to their fear that the Democratic leaning community will boycott their businesses or organizations. The Democrats here are like a cult or biker club....they promote hatred of anyone not like them and are afraid of change; and enjoy the benefits of corruption. Thanks Frank Morris, but we need new leadership.

Anonymous said...

The Demo Party is afraid of "them". The Republican Party is afraid of "them".

Anonymous said...

Yes, Adela is very entitled.

Anonymous said...

There is no two-party system in the RGV. We regularly have disgruntled Democrats running as Republicans to unseat corrupt members of the Democratic Culture of Corruption. Until there is a Republican Party representing the Hispanic community, there will not be a two-party system here.

Anonymous said...

Anon of May 19, 2014 at 2:30 PM
"...Until there is a Republican Party representing the Hispanic community, there will not be a two-party system here."
Can you be specific how?

Anonymous said...


Frank Morris's backing Oscar was only to put the screws to Ahumada. Get your facts straight.

"Colonel" Frank Morris has been the Democrats secret weapon here in the Valley for years. With FM at the head of the Repubs there has been no dynamic leadership and thus no real challenge to the Dems in Cameron County. That could change very rapidly if the Repubs were to open themselves --- as it has sometimes been used here --- for discontent Dems. Aside from that, given the number of retirees, a young, presentable and energetic Hispanic could cause lots of problems for the Dems. You heard it hear first.

All in all, Dems owe one big collective "thank you" to FM for staying in power as both he and the Repubs ossify with age over the course of three decades.

Stay tuned.

Anonymous said...

Yes. The Repub Party is becoming a fossil party. Many still adhere that all "Meskins" belong to a "certain category". Many of the Repubs have absolutely no knowledge of the historical development of the Southwest. An example of this fact Texas has only been a part of the Union (United States) for 166 years. Furthermore , the U.S. Of America, just abolished Slavery 149 years ago.

Anonymous said...

Adele is entitled to choose her conservative paper. It is the El Globo Parade brand. It does the trick.

Anonymous said...

Lots of work to be done down here .. but where are all these critics when we need them? Step up and step forward, or just continue to condemn someone else. Yep .. that's how to get things done.

rita