CESAR, YOU CAN FOOL ALL OF THE PEOPLE SOME OF THE TIME...

By Juan Montoya
Judging by the thousands of dollars that Position 1 Brownsville Independent School District trustee Cesar Lopez is spending on slick, flashy ads to convince the voters to vote for him over three other candidates, it is obvious that he and his money backers intend to buy this election with smoke and mirrors to hide the truth.
On Sunday it was a full-page color ad ($2,200?). The Wednesday before another color half page ($1,600?). Today it is another full-color half page (1,800?). Add that to the two mass mailings also costing thousands of dollars each and you can see that the players behind Lopez are shelling out big bucks to keep the BISD tit available to them.
Today, instead of harping on the lawsuit filed by Luci Longoria, one of his opponents and a trustee herself, he takes positive high road and focuses on "issues." Surrounded by children (whose?), he exudes a benign aspect in his message. Since everyone knows Cesar is the father to a new-born infant, it's obvious that he's using someone else's children as mere props to advance his candidacy.
But, alas, telling the truth is not Cesar's forte and a scrutiny of his "top five priorities" demonstrates that conclusively.
His first priority is universal a pilot program of Pre-K for all students in Spring 2015 when he knows full well this lead balloon has been floated around for some time but always falls to the ground with a thud because there has to be a way to pay for the buildings to house the program, the teachers and support staff, and other services necessary for this group.
How will he pay for it without raising taxes? Indebt the district even more?
He has already promised voters he won't raise taxes, but failed to mention that on Sept. 2 he voted to approve the tax rate that did exactly that. And guess what the additional tax rate was for? Would you believe to pay for debt service?
Another of this "priorities" is to "increase college and career opportunities for all students." Well, those board members before him (including his nemesis Longoria) established the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) at Veterans to service all the district's high school despite resistance form entrenched interests in the district. And there were already dual-enrollment and college-level course taught to BISD students. Maybe that is not such an original idea after all, is it?
His number 3 priority is to "recommend pay raises for all BISD employees." Well, where was he that June 25 Special Meeting meeting when the administration proposed their budget that did not include raises for the teachers? He was conspicuously absent. Yet, as Longoria has pointed out, he was present he and the majority gave records manager Martin Arambula a $15,000 increase – $75,940 to $90,061 – making more than 53 campus principals who are responsible for the education of hundreds of students and the supervision of teachers, staff, and campus security.
"And where was he July 15 when the board majority voted to hire two extra Area Assistant Superintendents not included in the 2014-2015 Adopted Budget or Compensation Plan and not posted correctly on the agenda, a violation of the Open Meetings Act?," Longoria asked.
Answer: Cesar was there for these highly-paid administrators and voted for the hires despite the apparent illegality. I stood up for teachers and other deserving professionals and voted against it.
Well, let's move on to Priority 4. Cesar says he wants to increase "transparency in  district and board operations."
Oh, he does, does he?
Why doesn't he begin by telling people why he has refused to provide the third signature to Longoria and Catalina Presas-Garcia's request that an item be placed on the agenda allow the board to review the employment of general counsel Baltazar Salazar and the charges that he lied on his application withe the district about his three felony theft arrests?
Not only were Salazar's offenses listed as crimes of moral turpitude which have kept other individuals from working for the district, but he also voted in December to extend Salazar;s contract and give a 10 percent increase to his $240,000 annual retainer fee?
Salazar, by the way, has so far contributed $4,000 in reported campaign contributions to Cesar's campaign. Isn't this the same attorney who has a contract – which you approved as a board member – prohibiting from making any "gifts" to a public servant in connection with his employment?Transparency say you, Cesar?
And last, but not least, of course, is his priority to improve "district-wide facilities and campus playgrounds." We come to the same little problem of district debt. Issue more bonds? Raise more taxes?
We must admit he did "put students first" in his newspaper ad, even if they were not his. But if he can "borrow" a couple of students without anyone the wiser, why can't the district also sink into debt to accomplish his so-called priorities as well?
...And some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time." - Abraham Lincoln