Standing in the same room where two of his ancestors took the oath of office to serve as Texas Southmost College trustees, Dr. Tony Zavaleta was sworn in Monday by his long time friend and Brownsville native Chief Municipal Court Judge Ben Neece.
Zavaleta was the winner in the runoff election between him and Brownsville Independent School District staffer Evelyn Cantu.
Neece, in remarks before he administered the oath of office, said he had known Zavaleta for most of his life and was sure that he would be work to advance the progress of the community college."If I know something about Tony is that he will be a good steward of the college," Neece said.
Four candidates ran for the position formerly held by trustee Ed Rivera who opted not to run for reelection and instead pinned his political hopes on being elected to the board of commissioners of the Brownsville Navigation District as part of a ticket money-rolled by self-appointed messianic Mike Hernandez III and Ambiotec owner (and United Brownsville architect) Carlos Marin.
Rivera and his companion on Hernandez's OP 10.33 ticket Raul Villanueva fell before incumbents Tito Lopez and Ralph Cowen. In the finest Ivy League tradition, Rivera, a Harvard graduate, did not attend the passing of the TSC board baton to fill his seat.
Pro-tem chairman Trey Mendez read a list of Zavaleta's accomplishments during his 40-year career as an instructor, researchers, scholar and administrator. Among his many academic achievements were included appointment to important nation board by both President Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama and his selection as a recipient of the Premio Ohtli, a recognition awarded by the Republic of Mexico to persons who have dedicated part of their life to professional activity that “abrir brecha,” or is a pathfinder outside of Mexico and has been involved in activities dedicated to the betterment of Mexicans outside of the country.
Among the positions he has held with the UTB-TSC partnership were: the first Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, Interim Dean of the College of Science, Math and Technology, Interim VP for Partnership Affairs, Interim VP for Institutional Advancement, VP for External Affairs, Interim Provost, and Associate Provost.
Zavaleta, with a degree in Anthroplogy from the University of Texas at Austin, retired from his higher education career where he started, back in the classroom.
"I just wanted to have (the list of accomplishments) read because it will probably be the only time it will be read," Zavaleta quipped after Mendez joked about the length of the notes in the introduction to the swearing in.
Zavaleta will join a new board that includes local attorney Ruben Herrera, and incumbents Mendez, Adela Garza, Ray Champion Hinojosa, Dr. Rey Garcia, and BISD administrator Art Rendon.
In the meeting following the swearing in and the reception, Garza was expected to be elected chair of the new reorganized board. Former chairman Kiko Rendon decided not to run for reelection but did attend the Zavaleta swearing in.
In the meeting following the reception, Rivera and Kiko Rendon were recognized for their service to the college.
15 comments:
Why all the reverence to this guy? Journalism 101: treat all politicians like dogs. Zavaleta has his canine diet and no doubt his canine teeth. Prediction: He will talk to much at board meetings, but do little to help things. Very much like blogger Wightman, this guy. Pity.
Zavaleta and Neece. Dos pedorros
Ed "the ghost" Rivera was a no show. A call for *anybody* to speak on behalf of his legacy drew....silence. RIP. You don't even live here.
Bolus!
Look who's talking....
Rivera a ni show.....again ///
If you refer to people with insults, that doesnt say much about the person you are insulting. It says a great deal about YOU. Good example: Donald Trump. Yes, he tells it like it is, BUT, before you tell it like it is stop and take a look at YOURSELF and THEN criticize others.
I've said it before; I voted for Zavaleta NOT because I think he is a great person or a people person. I voted for him because at the end of the day he was the lesser evil and he KNOWS the ins and outs of a Junior College and can teach the others a thing or two. Give the man some time, THEN after some time you can go after him for actual events not before they happen.
And you will continue to point out problems without offering solutions. At least Dr. Z is trying to make a positive difference.
What about you? Did you even vote?
Well stated! Some prefer to put others down for no reason, other than to feel superior to others. Tony won, let's see if he works in a constructive manner to make good things happen at TSC.
Nothing will change. Tony Z will come and go. It's the way of the Valley. Zavaleta is only the latest pachuco.
Look who's talking
Let's see? Like your evaluation of another politician will be of any importance. Go away, Pat. Nobody likes you.
Tony Z is up to his big ears in debt and is way behind on all his payments. How can we trust him to manage our tax dollars and the TSC budget? He's a pendejo que no vale verga para nada.
Tony Zavaleta is a "puro" DICK! He was guilty of fraternization...leaving his first wife for a student. He is a big mouth who thinks (as do all Zavaletas/Zavalettas) is smarter and more important than all other persons. Tony Zavaleta has been given much "praise" by this blog....all undounded. Just one from the "old village" taking care of a compadre.
You stole a check and Tony tried to get a mordida from the GMS contract. Same shit if you ask me.
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