SUDDENLY, EVERYONE WANTS TO BE TAX COLLECTOR

By Juan Montoya
They used to be run out on a rail in colonial times and even tarred and feathered.
But suddenly, in Cameron County, everyone is coveting the position of tax assessor-collector.
Leo Lopez, who ran for Cameron County Pct. 2 commissioner in 2014 was the first one to officially file as a write-in candidate followed closely by  Jessica Puente Bradshaw.
Bradshaw ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Representative for District 34 which Filemon Vela won in 2012.
And waiting in the wings are other candidates who say they might test the write-in waters including bondsman Raul Lopez, who ran for JP 2-2 in 2012.
The process for getting on the ballot as a write-in candidate is complicated, but we hear that there are many out there willing to take the plunge, especially since the position carries a $81,000-plus salary and benefits.
However, this is assuming that incumbent Cameron County Tax Assessor-Collector Tony Yzaguiree will be convicted of the felony charges on which he was indicted. His attorney – and former district judge Robert Garza – has stated that the charges were a publicity stunt by DA Luis V. Saenz to help his campaign. The charges were filed just prior to the voting in this year's primary elections.
Bradshaw, for her part, sent an email to social media outlets stating that it was "with pleasure and optimism that I declare my run as a write-in candidate for Cameron County, and in particular the City of Brownsville, have been constantly pummeled and plagued with corruption, compadrismo, and an “every man (or woman) for him/herself” mentality. NOT every Cameron County politician follows that approach Is it a wonder we have a full time FBI staff dedicated to weeding through the county
My intention has always been and will be to do right for every citizen and resident, man, woman and child of our community. The people of this county deserve leadership that is honest and fair. They deserve a leader who cares more about the people he serves Cameron County Tax Assessor Collector November 2016 election!
As a write-in candidate I will need your help getting the word out, educating and assisting those to whom voting for a write-in candidate is foreign or new."
It is noteworthy that Bradshaw has reappeared in the Brownsville area. During her run for the Republican nomination for U.S. Rep. her residency in the district was questioned by her opponent Adela Garza. Those questions were never really addressed then and we wonder whether they will be now.
Likewise, questions are already arising out of the fact that Lopez and his wife (District Judge Elia Cornejo) pay around $218 property taxes on a home valued upwards of $400,000. Taxes on the property, his supporters explain, is that fact that it is in a historical district and taxes on those qualifying properties have been frozen to allow the residents to make improvements in accordance with the City of Brownsville Historical District requirements. The home has a swimming pool and a two-story RV garage apartment in the rear.
Cameron County Appraisal District files indicate that other homes near the Lopez estate – which sits on nearly an acre of land – are not exempted under the historical designation and pay regular taxes even though they are easily 50 years older than the Lopez home.
About the only district that does not grant historical exemptions is the South Texas Independent School District.
Other names that have been mentioned as thinking of filing as a write-in candidates in November include former BISD CFO Tony Juarez, Ruben Cortez, and Erasmo Castro. The way it's going, there may be close to a dozen candidates before everything is said and done.