COUNTY TAKES TIP FROM MAYOR, X-MAS BASH BY RSVP ONLY

By Juan Montoya
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That's what some of the 1,500 Cameron County employees area probably asking themselves after word got out that Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño and his bods are hosting the invitation-only (RSVP) Christmas bash this Thursday evening at the Brownsville Events Center.

This – a la Brownsville Mayor Tony Martinez's state-of-the-city love fest – apparently will be paid by the county judge's political supporters. We've already heard that county elected officials pitched in $200 a piece for door prizes, but with 1,500 county employees, plus all other city, districts, and state elected officials, they'll probably need more space.

Da Mayor is probably an honord guest seeing how Treviño is the PUB legal counsel and Tony is the city's ex-oficio member. What about the other PUB board members who do what Tony and Eddie want? Garçon, more space!

Apparently, Hinojosa was irked that Republican Carlos Cascos was occupying the seat he thought rightfully belonged to a Democrat and asked that it not be placed while Cascos held office. And, like Pablo Picasso's Guernica, it did not see the light of day until Bad Old GOP dictator Carlos was gone from the throne.

In fact, Hinojosa lost to Cascos after holding office for 12 years. Later, as the state's Demo Party chief, he saw Carlos beat Democrat John Wood. With Treviño, a kindred Democratic spirit taking office, the photo is going up.

"It's been ready for a long time but it's never been put up," said a county insider. "But come January 2, it will be hung at the commisisoners' court. I guess Gilbert can live with Treviño's taking over the county judge's office."

In fact, we've heard that they had planned to rent just a section of the Events Center but had to rent more after some elected officials (like Cameron County Clerk Sylvia Garza-Perez) found out that they could only get a few of their friends in for the bash.

We are not betting men, or rather persons, but we would wager that the whole Democratic Party hierarchy will be well represented and the the program will probably include a cameo by former Cameron County Judge Gilberto Hinojosa, now Texas Democratic Party chairman.

Undoubtedly, favored members of the legal community of the county will also be sent an invitation. And we don't expect that the average Public Works, maintenance employee, or clerical staff that makes the county work will be sent one. After all, they probably can't tell which fork to use for their salad.

This is quite a sea change from the way things were done under former county judge Carlos Cascos (until the turn of the year Texas Secretary of State). But given the close relationship between Treviño and Hinojosa, we expect that the former county judge will make a cameo and then a speech signaling his comeback from the political hinterlands where the Cascos victories over him and his candidates had sent him and the party.

The Treviño-Hinojosa love fest will continue next January 4 when a portrait of Gilbert which had been prepared to be hung along with other past county judges will be unveiled and placed alongside the others

Apparently, Hinojosa was irked that Republican Cascos was occupying the seat he thought rightfully belonged to a Democrat and asked that it not be placed while Cascos held office. And, like Pablo Picasso's Guernica, it did not see the light of day until Bad Old GOP dictator Carlos was gone from the throne.

In fact, Hinojosa lost to Cascos after holding office for 12 years. Later, as the state's Demo Party chief, he saw Carlos beat Democrat John Wood. With Treviño, a kindred Democratic spirit taking office, the photo is going up.

"It's been ready for a long time but it's never been put up," said a county insider. "But come January 2, it will be hung at the commisisoners' court. I guess Gilbert can live with Treviño's taking over the county judge's office."

We just wonder how many of the county's top honchos will show up at work early Friday morning or whether the county will be shut down to let them recover from the night of debauchery.

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