Saturday, March 21, 2015

LONGORIA'S, PEREZ'S DISTRICT 1 CANDIDACIES CHALLENGED

By Juan Montoya
One of three candidates for the District 1 city commissioner position has filed a written challenge to the candidacies of his two opponents, including the incumbent Rick Longoria.
Brownsville attorney Michael Gonzalez, filed the challenge with the city secretary late Friday. He posted a copy of a press release and a copy of the formal challenge to the news media late Friday.
The challenge revolves around the Brownsville City Charter provision Section 4A, Subsection 3:   if within five days after notification by the city secretary he shall have filed with such secretary a written acceptance of the nomination."

"Any eligible person placed in nomination as hereinbefore provided shall have his name printed on the ballots
Gonzalez claims that an information request with the city secretary's office indicates that neither Perez nor Longoria filed such a letter five days after they received notice from the city secretary's office.
Gonzalez does not address whether the candidates in any of the other three contested positions – the mayor, District 2, or the At-Large "A" – filed such letters.
In a recent television interview, city attorney Mark Sossi has insinuated that the mere deliverance of the nomination containing the required signatures constitutes an acceptance in his view. However, some Gonzalez supporters say that if that was the case, there would be no need for the city charter to include the subsection in the requirements to run for public office.
Theoretically, voters could circulate a petition nominating person as a candidate for office and submit it to the city secretary without the person's consent. This has happened many times at party conventions and the candidate can decline the nomination. The city charter subsection in question seems to have been included to allow people who don't want to get drafted into public office to decline being on the ballot.
"Why have the rules if you're not going to follow them, then?," they counter. "Has the city been winging it all this time?"
That raises the question on whether the city secretary (and city attorney) have adhered to the letter of the rules concerning elections in the charter rules in past elections.
In his press release, Gonzalez states that: "As a home rule city, Brownsville can pass elections requirements additional to those found in the Texas Election Code. Brownsville did just that in its City Charter by requiring written acceptance within five days of securing and approved nomination by petition. Ricardo Longoria and Roman Perez have failed to conform with the additional requirement and by law should not appear on the ballot."
Gonzalez says he is requesting a written response from the city on its official interpretation of the section and subsection.
The city election is set for May 9.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
If they didn't abide by the Charter, then Shyster Sosso can /should make a decision . Ignorance of the "Lew" is no excuse as per Republican pundits .

MARCH 21, 2015 AT 12:37 PM
Anonymous said...
I and others agree with Gonzalez, if that's the rule that's the rule. If a letter of acceptance is required, than do it. Just do it.

MARCH 21, 2015 AT 12:51 PM
Anonymous said...
OMG!!! Do you mean that Rick doesn't even know the Charter well enough to file his acceptance letter. And what about Roman? I thought he was a Professor, who should have known better. Well, it's par for Brownsville, that any amateur can run for office and, unfortunately, win.

Go Michael!!!!!!!!
Con la Southmost

MARCH 21, 2015 AT 12:53 PM
Anonymous said...
Go Roman Perez, u have our vote in district 10.

MARCH 21, 2015 AT 1:20 PM
Anonymous said...
I leave in district 45 Roman Perez has our support.

MARCH 21, 2015 AT 1:21 PM

Anonymous said...

I live in matamoros. Roman has my support!

Anonymous said...

Is this how Ben Neece wants to get his boy in?

Anonymous said...

1:20, you support a fraud. Perez lives quoting rule books and to see him die by the sword he can't even lift is wonderful indeed.

Anonymous said...

Anybody who supports that liar Roman Perez must be a piece of crap drag queen too. He is a phony and a fraud.

Anonymous said...

This leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It seems, somehow, undemocratic. It just seems the decision should be up to the electorate rather then hinge on a technical error (that the candidates should have gotten right). I am not in this district and if I was I would not have voted for Longoria or Perez but if Gonzalez doesn't think he can beat them in an election why is he running? At least this should send the others running to dot the i's and cross the t's.

Anonymous said...

By the way, this tactic, which is legal, is similar to how Obama won many elections in Illinois as a junior politician with a law background. He disqualified many opponents on technicalities and won elections.

I think Mr Gonzales knows what he is doing and his opponents don't.

If needed, could Mr Gonzales take the city to court?

Anonymous said...

LOL

Anonymous said...

RICK IS TIME TO GO

Anonymous said...

It is 7:00 AM on Monday and I still haven't stopped laughing at the fact that Roman got beat at his own game! Hahahahaha I'm so glad that turd is out!

rita