CAPTAIN BOB MAKES THE MAYORAL BALLOT BY A HAIR

By Juan Montoya
Hear about the close call that Robert "Capt. Bob" Sanchez had with the office of the City of Brownsville secretary?
Apparently, el Capitan Roberto was one valid signature short of the 100 necessary to get on the ballot and had to hurry down to the city and straighten it out with city manager Charlie Cabler and a battery of lawyers.
Well, eventually Bob was allowed to add another valid signature to his list and will be listed with the other five candidates this May and he pulled it off by a hair of his thinning pate.
But the close call came after Sanchez had invited some county dignitaries to his seafood restaurant on Price Road and treated them to a delicious marisco repast compliments of the house.
Well, that was when he was gathering signatures and they all gave him theirs and one of his pals – Cris Valadez AKA "Maclovio O'Malley" – even took a sheet home and got some of his kin to put their John Hancock.
The one diner who ate on the Capt.'s nickel and didn't dare ink his name on the Capt. Bob for mayor form was none other than Cameron County Treasurer David Betancourt. Twice he was asked by the captain on different occasions and twice, through the shell of his shrimp plate he declined.
Apparently, Betancourt was afraid that Da Mayor Tony Martinez would spot his signature on Bob's form and could perhaps remove him from the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation where he is the chairman. Betancourt has a habit of saying he supports you in private but stops short of making any type of endorsement in public.
David should remember that his term will be up a couple of years from now and he might be needing a vote or two from the captain's extended family. Or he might have a yen for some of the shrimp and filet dishes (or catan chicharrones)  and will have to dish out some of his hard-earned cash instead of getting it gratis from the captain's table.