In what might amount to a rejection of the tactics used against local candidates by the OP 10.33 cadre and its paid hordes of campaign workers, voters in both the Texas Southmost College and Brownsville Navigation District resoundingly rejected candidates associated with the movement that was heavily financed by Dallas-based millionaire Mike Hernandez III.Only the race for Place 3 on the TSC board will have to go to a runoff since – unlike the port – the races are not based on a majority of votes.
In that race, UTRGV professor Dr. Tony Zavaleta will square off for round 2 in a runoff with Evelyn Cantu.
The rest of the races were decided outright during the early voting, with election day totals mirroring the early vote.
Zavaleta drew 2,556 votes to Cantu's 1,835. Dr. Tony Juarez drew 1,097 and J.J. de Leon 923.
Trey Mendez swamped his opponent Beatriz Hockaday 4,289 to 2,109, a difference of 2,180.
In Place 5, top vote-getter of the night Ruben Herrera wiped out Daniel Pizaña 4,711 to 1,658, a difference of 3,053.
At the Port, where, Hernandez's group poured thousands of dollars to support candidates Ed Rivera and Raul Villanueva, the voters soundly rejected their argument that the port was lagging in economic development and kept the incumbents, albeit by smaller margins than at TSC.
Place 3 incumbent Ralph Cowen beat banker Villanueva 3,197 to 2,658, a difference of 539 votes.
Place 5 incumbent Tito Lopez beat former TSC trustee Ed Rivera 2,915 to 2,083,a difference of 832.
OP 10.33 had targeted Cowen and Lopez as "detrimental" to the port, a claim that sounded hollow when the incumbents asserted that the port's Free Trade Zone had outperformed all other ports nationwide by actually increasing cargoes while the rest of the ports reported a decline in business. Coming off a banner year for cargo, a new dock and the operating of the grain elevator, the claims by the OP 10.33 didn't get much traction.
That plus the fact that the OP 10.33's tactics of associating corruption with its targeted candidates did not sit well with the districts' voters.The fact that Ambiotec owner (and United Brownsville architect) Carlos Marin was hired as OP 10.33's job developer, a Dallas public relations guru was its spokesman and former Raza Unida founder Jose angel Gutierrez was listed as community organizer (also from Dallas) and announced it was targeting local officials drew the umbrage of their supporters.
As the election drew near, many voters apparently took a closer look at the group's claims and decided to go along with the incumbents' call to "keep the momentum going."
"Why didn't the OP 10.33 people just go to the boards with their plans and try to collaborate with them instead of being high-handed and demanding?," asked one of the port incumbents. "Ralph might like his feebies as far as travel and good eats, and Tito has a personal interest in truck transportation, but that does not necessarily make them corrupt."
Rivera had troubles of his own. Early on there was a controversy because he claimed he lived inside the port district with his girlfriend when it was common knowledge that he lived in his home in Laguna Vista. That plus the fact that both he and Villanueva reported that Hernandez had given them at least $20,000 each in cash and an unreported amount for publicity and paid campaign workers who pounded the pavement for weeks up until election day made voters suspicious about the group's designs.
Even on election day, campaign workers for the group offered a free plate of barbecue chicken if the voters could prove they had voted on that day. They neglected to say that on election day elections clerks do not give out "I voted" signs or note that a person voted on the voting card, the proof the group wanted before handing out the plate.
"Why would someone spend thousands of dollars in the race if they did not think they would get something in return?," asked the port's Place 3 incumbent John Reed. Reed did not have an opponent. On the day of filing, Rivera had initially listed himself as running for Reed's place, but later in the day switched to run against Lopez.
Now, as the group picks up the pieces of their defeat, will they continue their campaign of eradicating poverty by October 2033, or will they pick themselves up and take their toys (and millions) and go back home to Dallas?
And will those port incumbents who survived the OP 10.33 ordeal ask themselves if the group had a point about their performance and seek to improve the representation of their constituents?
To see raw, uncanvassed results, click on link below:
https://www.electionwareresults.com/webResults/summary-188.html
49 comments:
Cheech was always a better doper than a political operative. Maybe Cheech should stick with Panama Red and forget about Panamanian flag tankers at the Port! Looks like OP 10.33 just went "Up in Smoke"!
I wonder if Roger Lee has any comments to make here re. the election results and OP 10.33's involvement? Looks like a lot of folks "got in the way!"
So, pobrecito "Dallas" Hernandez has joined the long ranks of the Marin-ated, slowly soaked then stuck on a spit for a good cookin'.
And it only cost him $140,000. Keep it up, Miguel... it'll all be over soon!
On the bright side, all those unused bumper stickers for his candidates can be used for temporary repairs to body rust...not to mention the millions saved by local taxpayers who would no doubt been on the hook for yet another series of impotent "studies" to keep Marin and his little boy Oscarito in chips for years.
When they coined "imagine Brownsville" it was actually,
"Imagine. Brownsville!" All the rubes and rubles in one place.
That has got to be the fastest fall in the history of Valley politics.
Op 33 Hernandez rolls into town in October, parades through among the establishment elites, showering promises of million dollar gifts, puts up "new blood" to take over the governments to save us from ourselves, says he's going to eliminate all poverty in Brownsville by 2033 (conveniently beyond anyone's lifetime to remember it), cure yeast infextions and will save the El Jardin to boot!
...but by May was dragging his carcass of a movement back north, decimated at the polls, humiliated on Levee Street and a whole lot poorer. All that in 7 months. Gee, Mike. Only 17 years to go!
A word of free advice: You might want to take inventory of those sages and hawkers who told you this was going to be a good idea and have them biopsied...and you might want a cranial MRI done too.
There is no greater threat to American democracy than the malignancy known as super-PACS. Fortunately, they don't seem to be doing very well this year. On the Republican side, $400,000,000 spent in support of the non-Trump candidates got peed down the toilet. On the Democrat side, how do you explain that a cranky 75 year old Jewish socialist from Brooklyn has basically battled Hillary to a draw (rigged super delegates give her the nomination)? And, now, on the local level our voters woke up and rejected the self-anointed Messiah Mike Hernandez III and his partner-in-crime Marin. Job well done!
Did not go vote but will definitely go vote in the run off. !! Zavaleta has our vote !! That Evelyn is associated with the wrong crowd !
Da..da.dum..dum..dum..Another one bites the dust!
Now to vote for Dan Sanchez since his opponent belongs to the same group.
What crowd is Evelyn associated with? We need as much information as possible to make an informed decision for the runoff election.
Gotta vote for that young lady called Evelyn. She's the cutest little candidate to come around in a long time.
I don't personally know Evelyn Cantu, nor do I care to. She may be a very nice lady, but that belabors the point. She's supported by the wrong outfit - the same group that heaped so much damage on UTB/TSC.
May I remind your readers that over 600 faculty and staff were unceremoniously tossed, with not so much as a thank you, more were pressured to retire, and others just left, tired of the charade. And JVG during all this - a Marie Antionette attitude to the whole thing - "let them eat cake," everything is fine.
Both entities now - TSC and UTRGV on the Brownsville campus are at a very reduced state of enrollment. Tony Zavaleta knows the operation
at TSC and can be a definite help in increasing enrollment. This will be a boon to both institutions. He was one of those unceremoniously tossed from UTB/TSC so he can identify those who went through this tribulation. Now is not the time to let all the various pseudo quasi shadow government groups which so abound here to get their foot in the door. Turnout is imperative. All those that voted for Tony in round one and those who chose other candidates, please come out and vote for him in round two. The alternative is unthinkable.
The oily reptilian beat Evelyn? Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!
Can you vote in runoff if you did not vote in primary?
They'll be back.
Please do not for get that Evelyn, has the support of Op1033 and is highly involved with Sylvia Perez.. Another Rat
Main Street Shop Closing After 75 Years
(Kyle, TX) Hick's Barber Shop, a downtown Kyle fixture for three-quarters of a century, closed it's doors for the final time Friday.
Fred Hicks, grandson of the original owner, announced the closing in a "Thank You!" statement to his customers published in the Kyle Bulletin.
"Many of our first customers wanted military cuts," stated Mr. Hicks.
"Then we suffered through Beatlemania and the hippy era when many of the youth lost an interest in grooming. I think our biggest contribution to the community over the years was the bowl cut. Back in the 50's we hung four bowls on the wall; small, medium, large and extra large. The customer would put the bowl on his head and we would trim any hairs falling below the edge of the bowl. The cuts were fast, but it was a style many of our boys preferred. Eventually styles changed and the guys wanted a different style cut."
Hicks had no trouble remembering his last bowl cut: "Oh, I will never forget it. A man, who said he was a writer, came in with his girl friend at the time. We did bowl cuts on the both of them. It was the damndest thing! My partner said they looked like two mops walking out of here."
LOL!
Well said.
Cowen and Lopez will celebrate with an around the world junket on the QE2. Your tax dollars at work. Nothing will change.
Tomorrow's Herald headline
Incumbent Political Whores Trounce Upstart Political Whores, Voters Rebuke Effort to Buy Election With New Money
wonder if Roger Lee still wants us "to not get in the way and let them do their job." Looks like they didn't do it very well. HA! HA! HA! HA!
Those voters just don't know their place, do they, Roger?
What an ass kicking ! Mike, the brilliant business man made a bad investment. Would you say that your canidates were a worst investment than the El Jardin Hotel Mikey boy?
With all the mail on ballots i hope that luis saenz and mary helen are demanding a full blown investigation. I wont hold.my breath. Fucking hypocrites.
Arrogance and Elitism are not good ingredients for the harmonious performance of TSC Board of Trustees, PLEASE VOTE EVELYN CANTU FOR TSC BOARD OF TRUSTEES PLACE 3
I'm voting for Evelyn Cantu because she will protect the interest of the students who attend TSC AND TONY ZAVALETA IS DIRTY AND NUTS. It doesn't surprise me he is on his computer writing all these stupid comments about EVELYN. The last time he ran for office, he cried like a little bitch about politiqueras using mail ins, ONLY to use politiqueras himself. SAVE TSC FROM TONY Z!!!!!!!!!!!
TONY ZAVALETA YOU NEED TO BE A MAN AND STOP MAKING RUMORS UP ABOUT EVELYN! GET OFF YOUR COMPUTER AND GO PAY YOUR POLITIQUERAS!
Harmonious? Tas pendejo, they were self-serving and making money along the way. Ya se va Kiko, falta Art Rendon. Pinche par de ratas. Ed on the other hand is not a rata but only a political wannabe who was so in love with Kiko that he voted as was told. Now he can go back to Laguna Vista and fade away into the sunset.
Evelyn is a drama queen with a head full of air and the wrong crowd supporting her. She is the final OP-1033 candidate left standing. Vote Zavaletta, the best candidate for this position. TSC needs to move forward and Dr. Z is the man for this job. By the way, Dr. Z has expressed a very special interest in keepin Art Rendon at bay.
Anyone Sylvia the cover up rat support is NOT good !!!!!!!!!! Corrupt to the core
Never forget who inflicted Rose Gowen on us. That's right! C A R L O S M A R I N
MIGUEL HERNANDEZ
I HOPE YOU NOW LISTEN TO OTHERS WHO CAN GIVE YOU BETTER ADVICE ON POLITICS IN BROWNSVILLE.
I KNOW, KNOW, KNOW YOU LEARNED YOUR LESSON.
PROTECT YOUR MONEY.
ROGER, LET MIKE SEE THIS POST.
The Wanabee Rockerfelar shipping magenet Ralph Cowen says he is going to bring the QE2 to Brownsville as a tourist attraction no he is back in office.
Cutest? Are you fucking blind?
Exactly.
... Says Jessica Tetreau. Another crazy bitch.
A lobotomy is in order
Cowen and Lopez will celebrate with an around the world junket on the QE2. Your tax dollars at work. Nothing will change.
Ya Ed Rivera this was you posting. You are only jealous cause you could not do it yourself. You are a legend in your own mind. Lots of people took pictures with you but did not vote for you obviously. Raul Villanueva could have won if he had dropped you. Raul was the only reason why you got some votes.
Is our esteemed County Clerk's support an asset or a liability for any candidate at this point?
Still waiting for Roger Lee's admonishment of us ungrateful peasants. He's been kind of quiet since Saturday.
For Cameron County judge? Do we just hop scotch over Trevino's history, the greedy, my way or the highway, I'm unapproachable Trevino? If memory serves, he is the epitomy of a self serving, greedy, sneaky, snake in the grass, politician? Not in this lifetime, Mr. Trevino! You have branded yourself, the public doesn't have a nebulous moment regarding your history or your present undertakings!
ASSET !! SYLVIA G. PEREZ 24/7/365 !!
Your esteemed county jerk is a liability to anyone she endorses ! a loser will always be a loser no mater what title it holds . Goggle loser it has Sylvia name right by it
Well she is pretty and has a nice smile lol
Finally someone who speaks the truth and uses his name.
I think Evelyn will do a great job. Im voting for her the other guy idk he just rubs me the wrong way.
Sylvia has had many titles , but loser is definitely not one . She has won too many awards and served on too many boards to be confused with the "L" word . Now if you were to compare yourself with Sylvia and all of her awards and election victories you would be left in the dust Anonymous at 9:03 pm . Sylvia vs Anonymous ? Sylvia Garza Perez all day 24/7/365 !!
My name is Loca Letty and here are my 5 reasons not to Vote for Eddie .
1. Eddie doesn't believe in unicorns , how can we elect someone who doesn't believe in unicorns ?
2. Eddie's always talking about trails . How does he expect Dan Sanchez and myself to go out and walk these long trails ? We need more roads !
3.When I look at Eddie I don't see much . Now when you look at Dan you see a real man , someone who isn't about serving himself and he doesn't look greedy , he's what a County Judge should look like .
4. I'm tired of the jente/people of Brownsville voting for the wrong people . I should have won every election I was in . Now it's time for Brownsville to get it right and vote for Dan !
5. Eddie is friends with the County jerk . If I would have won I would have made my Cameron County Great Again . Eddie it's over Dan's the Man !
Roger, the peasants are revolting!
Ok Evelyn thank you for all your comments.
You're blind and stupid.
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