IN TWO SHORT YEARS, SAENZ, CHEEZMEH KISS N MAKE UP

By Juan Montoya
When Cameron County District Attorney Luis Saenz was in the Democratic party primary runoff with Brownsville Navigation District Port commissioner Carlos Masso two short years ago, the latter enlisted the aid of Erasmo Castro, sister Linda and the Cheezmeh legion of minor demons.
They trashed Saenz and accused him of everything from infidelity to womanizing, and to Saenz being the target of criminal investigations by two juries. Erasmo Castro even designed the trademark black T-shirts with a "Cheezmasso" logo to signal their support for Carlos.
A local group – apparently irked by the antics of the Cheezmeh gang  even came up with a graphic depicting Erasmo in the same body of Masso wearing the group's traditional black shirt.
Well, Saenz won that election and took office.
Many of us wondered at the time how Erasmo – having been charged with numerous criminal offenses –   had the chutzpah to go after a candidate for district attorney who could find out his background in a heartbeat.
Nonetheless, he did.
Later, there would be a falling out between the principals of the self-styled Cheezmeh nation and acrimony ensued after Erasmo made it clear that he was the only leader and that all homage should be paid to the Great Fromage.
But Erasmo had made enemies directing the group's targets and it wasn't long before a local blog came up with his rap sheet.
They found out that "a search of the National Criminal Records, Texas State Criminal Records, Cameron, Morris, Smith, Titus and Travis counties criminal records reflect that (he) DOB 01/20/1967, has the following three criminal records:
Erasmo Castro (DOB 1/20/67)
* 4/18/1994 - Felony forgery. Disposed on 4/25/1994. Probation.
*6/29/1997 - Misdemeanor Class B - Theft by check. Disposition Date: 4/23/1998. Guilty.
*10/15/1997 - Misdemeanor Class B - Theft by check (again). Disposition Date: 4/23/1998. Guilty."

Other searches on other websites indicates that a person with the same name and and the same birth date has operated at least two ministries and a public notary service up north and has sought bankruptcy protection at least twice to fend off his debtors.
When Saenz won, Masso was the first to congratulate him and endorse him, a kind of kiss and makeup play by both.
Well, now it's Cheezmeh and Saenz turn to kiss and make up to push back the frontiers of ignorance and injustice.
In a recent post on the web indicates that Saenz and Castro are partners in the never-ending battle against the criminal element seeking to destroy Western civilization as we know it.
Castro must have been titillated to post a cold case poster of a woman homicide victim that occurred 21 years ago.
It's commendable that Castro has mended his ways and is now partnering with the D.A. to find clues to the victim's assailants.
But some don;t think that the posting by Castro to show that he has the ear (and privately corresponds) with his former nemesis.
Erasmo, apparently, is in with Luis.
We guess we should applaud this very public example of rehabilitation. On the other hand, those in the community who grew jaded with the Castro's and Cheezmeh's antics have developed a more cynical outlook on any actions they may publicize. With Luis in his corner, anything is possible now.