IN ELECTION, WILL "BROWNSVILLE MENTALITY" DOOM CORTEZ?

By Juan Montoya
Remember when Cameron County Republican Party nominee for Cameron County Sheriff Victor Cortez was running for the nomination of his party against Indian Lake police Chief John Chambers?
 In a tit-for-tat running cyber dispute with former Los Fresnos police chief Johnny Cavazos, Cortez – who is the sole rival against incumbent Omar Lucio fo the Democrats – crowed over the fact that he had a direct hand in the conviction of his opponent for the same position.

At the time Cortez, who left Luis Saenz's Cameron County District Attorney Office Public Integrity Unit (PIU) to run for the Republican sheriff nomination, briefly posted his comments on his Facebook page before cooler minds convinced him to remove it.
Using DEA-inspired scorched earth political tactics, Cortez heaped contempt on the "Brownsville mentality" and crowed over the fact that he had a direct hand in the conviction of his opponent for the same position.


Cortez made the post in response to an offending post by Cavazos, a Chamber supporter.
Chambers is appealing his conviction on 14 counts of Tampering With a Government Document where he was accused of directing a confidential informant – his assistant chief Alfredo Avalos – to put together files on his 30 deputies' firearm certification.

Avalos, after receiving immunity from the DA's Office – told a jury that he was acting under Chambers' orders, the Nuremberg Defense.
In his post, Cortez refers to the "Brownsville Mentality" and insists that there is noting but facts coming from his side.
Then, gratuitously, the former DEA agent posted a photo of Chambers' booking photo and tells Cavazos, "In case you missed it, here it is again, enjoy."
We wonder what Cortez – himself a Brownsville native allegedly from La 421 – meant by the "Brownsville mentality."

It's still funny how Cortez didn't mention all the "facts."
For example, he didn't metnionthat while he was the chief at the PIU, Cortez imitated at least two investigations into Chambers following the disclosure that Chambers had gone to the FBI with information on wrongdoing at the DA's Office.

Another minor "fact" is that on two occasions the charges against Chambers were dropped because of lack of evidence to back the charges.

It was also a "fact" that the investigation into the gun certification changes originated with a Cortez-inspired investigation.

And also true was the "fact" that Cortez – during Chamber's trial – assisted his former DEA colleague George Delaney to try Chambers even though he was his opponent for the GOP sheriff nomination in the upcoming March 1 elections. (He is the guy in the baseball cap kneeling in the hallway outside the corridor conferring with investigator Delaney in the graphic at left.)

Since Cortez said he is from Brownsville, is it the "Brownsville mentality" to use the power of the state to discredit your political opponent by taking a direct hand in his prosecution when you stand to benefit directly from it?

Is this a Republican thing, something Cortez picked up in DEA training, or a talent that was nurtured and finessed in the bowels of the Cameron County DA's Office?

This November 8, we'll see how far Cortez goes against Lucio without the support of the "Brownsville mentality."