IS RIGO "TEAM SAENZ'S" CANDIDATE FOR U.S. CONGRESS?

By Juan Montoya

He's been coy about his intentions.

When Facebook friends ask about his political intentions and what position he might be thinking of running for, Brownsville
firefighter Rigo Bocanegra he says it will be up to his exploratory committee to deliberate and recommend.

And lately his postings have hinted at a "countywide" position with the support of "Team Saenz," a political group under the auspices of Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz and his brother Mario.

Las November, Bocanegra came in third out of five candidates for the Position 7 seat on the board of the Brownsville Independent School District formerly held by Hector Chirinos. The difference in the voting was 13,217 for eventual winner Dr. Sylvia Atkinson. 7,635 for Chirinos and 7,446 for Bocanegra.

The city has proven that it will turn a blind eye to its personnel policies if Bocanegra decides to run because so far, it has allowed a firefighter (and later fire chief) Carlos Elizondo to hold a seat on the BISD board of trustees.

This despite a personnel policy states that:
Section 702: Political Activity
"B. Specifically, City Employees may not engage in the following activities:
4. Hold an elective City office or hold an elective or appointive office in any other jurisdiction where service would constitute a direct conflict of interest with City employment, with or without remuneration. Upon assuming such office, an Employee shall resign or shall be dismissed for cause upon failure to do so."

Well, that's what the rules say, but Brownsville being Brownsville, Elizondo has being able to stay on the board since 2014 and no one at the city has seen fit to live by their rules. If they have allowed Elizondo to stay on the BISD and still keep his job, why not Rigo? Elizondo's term, by the way, expires on 2018, just one year away.

In fact, Elizondo and Bocanegra were bosom buddies until the firefighters felt that Carlos went after the brass ring and became chief just in time to do away with their contract "me-too" clause which pegged their compensation to the police department. Since then, they have parted ways. In fact, Rigo was Elizondo's campaign manager in his successful BISD campaign.

We had also heard that Bocanegra might be contemplating running for a paid position such as the Cameron County Pct. 2 commissioner's post now held by Alex Dominguez. However, Bocanegra says he is still awaiting the recommendations of his exploratory committee to advise him on what position he should run for.

And supporters of Cameron County Clerk Sylvia Garza-Perez says that it is really her position that he will go after since the Saenz bros have an erect desire to do her in since she was one of Carlos Masso's supporters in the last elections for DA against Saenz.

The venture is not without its risks, as Rigo will probably find out. It is doubtful that he will be able to hold two paying jobs with the city and the county if he should so decide. The last time we had the city-county situation was when Carlos Cisneros (peace be with him) worked as an administrative assistant to county commissioner John Woods while he was holding a city commissioner seat. Since the city commissioners serve without pay, whatever conflict there may have been, were ignored back then.

NBut c an Bocanegra afford to give up his paying job at the city to take a chance with a finicky countywide electorate?

Rigo is swell known in political circles. But sometimes he should be wary of the siren song whispered by "Team Saenz:" in his ear. Sometimes we feel that the world will stop spinning if we're not in the mix. Lately, that team has shown that it holds political grudges against those who do not kowtow to their wishes. With the DA in your corner, one is tempted to think they're untouchable and unbeatable. One one side is the whirlpool and on the other the shoals. Both are dangerous.

Garza-Perez has shown herself to be a formidable campaigner who might have beat Carlos Cascos for county judge is she hadn't pulled out an allowed Joe Rivera to replace her on the ballot instead.

When a peace parley was called between Saenz and Garza-Perez at Ramiro Sanchez's place in Los Fresnos, the DA let Sylvia know in no uncertain terms that he had her in his sights. The Gonzalez family – Aurora and Arturo – has been ingrained into Saenz and now you'r either with him or against him. There is no middle ground. So if you're an office holder and Team Saenz decides to run Rigo against you, watch your back and keep an eye on the indictments emanating from the county courts.