(Ed.'s Note: In one of my previous lifetimes I was the campaign manager of a barrio candidate for county commissioner who was terrified of speaking in public. At the time he was running against the late (great) D.J. Lerma, commissioner for Pct. 1. Just as today, several civic groups had debates (or forums) where the candidates were supposed to give their views of the public issues. Since it would not do that there would be no one representing the views of the challenger against the incumbent, it fell on me to show up as my candidate's surrogate.
Now, D.J. was a first-rate attorney and he would have made mincemeat out of our guy. At the second forum (debate), he looked over where I was seated and asked: "Where's my opponent? Am I running against a ghost?" That brought the house down and all I could think of responding was a lame "Well, commissioner, maybe if you laid off the spirits you wouldn't see ghosts."
The photos above were sent to us by one of our seven readers who wondered why incumbent District 4 city commissioner John Villarreal was a no-show at the Brownsville Board of Realtors forum held at their offices on Central Blvd. In fact, incumbent At-Large "B" commissioner Rose Gowen also didn't show up because she was vacationing with her hubby who she said was a teacher who observes Spring Break after the Easter holiday. It would have been enlightening to hear her and Villarreal's explanation on how it has come to be that the city has spent more than $500,000 to fund the cyclobia events in downtown Brownsville, a point brought home by Villarreal's opponent Ben Neece and Gowen's challenger Erasmo Castro. With early voting beginning Monday, it's hard to argue with those who say that both incumbents are ducking debates with their challengers.)
6 comments:
It looks like the incumbents have decided that a "no show" at all public events is better than being confronted by all the anti-Tony Martinez questions.....bad investments, Casa de Nylon wasted tax dollars, failure of Tenaska power plants, increased PUB service charges, bikes before people events, and all the other mistakes this commission has made. To avoid that conflict, the commissioners, like Rose Zavaleta Gowen, have taken the cowards way out....be a "no show" at public events. Hopefully voters will see this "no show" decision for what it is....a decision to avoid transparency and to avoid discussion with the public. Let's hope our citizens will circle the wagons against these political cowards.
Maybe John was kidnapped by Somalian pirates
The citizens of Brownsville have an opportunity to replace the current commissioners running for re-election. In fact, we need to replace the entire city commission to include the Mayor. Citizens, please consider all the wasteful spending of deplorable and overpriced real estate purchases the current commission acquired. La Casa. Del Nylon, El Cueto and its parking lot next to it, San Fernando building, Gutierrez Warehouse, two properties next to Los Reyes Cafe on 11th street and let's not forget the rental office on the corner of 11th street and East Washington st that the city completely renovated as the Mayor's office but he never utilized. Also, remember all the waste of tax payers monies on ill-attended Cyclovias that only incurr overtime pay and affect downtown merchants. Clearly, the priorities of this commission are way out of line, street maintenance neglected, drainage issues not properly addressed. Enough is enough, lets get new leaders that will take care of the real issues and most Importantly, stop all the wasteful spending once and for all. Get out and vote please.
Neece, and Gowen!
A vote for Villarreal, Munguia and Gowen is a vote for the Mayor. Garza, Neece and Castro will be the right choices,.
Neece,Gowen, & Garza 2017!!!
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