In one of my previous lifetimes, I used to work for Cameron County Pct. 1.
During the race for state senator in 1992 where Bob Krueger was challenged by Kay Bailey Hutchinson, I was called by one of the many ladies who used to collect mail-in votes from barrio elderly because – unlike the way they did in local races – there were no heavyweight local office holders running that year.
The ladies had a problem. They had collected about three HEB grocery bags of mail-in votes but had no money to mail them at the post office. Since there was little interest in the race (Krueger lost handily), I had to hustle for stamps from the likes of former District Clerk Aurora de la Garza and County Clerk Joe Rivera.
It made no difference in the race, but they had to stay in practice for the later races that would come.
I recall this because we have seen a change in the use of mail-in voting in the county and state. Nowadays both parties court the elderly note and send mail-in ballot applications to their constituents over 65 years of age. But where there's a will there is a way and room for mischievousness.Just the other day we heard that Brownsville Navigation District Ralph Cowen was seen at a local lounge tet-a-tet with some well-known politiqueras. The port and Texas Southmost College are holding elections May 5, but early voting starts April 23 and ends May 1. In fact, mail-in ballots for that race are already arriving at local voters' homes.
The increase in mail-in votes following the sudden drop after the prosecution of politiqueras here four years ago gave some people room to pause. No doubt that it has also piqued the interest of local law enforcement wondering whether the local "political activists" have gone down the straight and narrow or are contemplating returning to their bad old ways. We're told they are keeping an eye on things just to keep them honest.
Ralph Cowen, and his colleague on the board John Reed have a lot riding on this election. Cowen's brother John Cowen runs a brokerage firm that does extensive business with the port tenants. Ralph, we are told, does some of the administrative work for his warehouse operations. And Reed's brother-in-law is Mark Hoskins, runs Gulf Stream Marine, the largest stevedore company at the port. Ideally for them the makeup of the board won't change, especially the seat that will be vacated by Carlos Masso, now locked in a runoff race for the 197th District Court with Adolfo Cordova.
Those running for Masso's seat are former port candidate Esteban Guerra and Javier Vera. Guerra is a local businessman with extensive ties on both sides of the border. Vera is the CFO for John Cowen's brokerage firm, and has been for the last 20 years. So we know where his loyalties lie.
If Vera wins, John Cowen can rest assured his interests will be protected with his employee on the commission, his brother Ralph also on the board, and Reed, with whose brother-in-law he does extensive business at Gulf Stream Marine protected.
We've already heard of the Reed-Cowen one-two act where they are calling port tenants discouraging them from contributing to the Guerra campaign. With the nail-in ballots now arriving at homes, we are wondering just how involved they will get to get the early and mail-in vote out for Vera.
Will they be successful in maintaining this incestuous "club" at the Port of Brownsville?
8 comments:
I hope there are poll watchers in person outside the port voting places. We all saw how the politiqueros have moved beyond mail in ballots. They took vanloads of elderly to certain polling places, telling them who to vote for and checking their ballots to make sure they voted the 'right way'. Of course the polling places have cameras outside, if one were to check.
Will someone explain to me how someone can verify that the mail-in ballots are legal? Who knows who marked the ballot and who signed it. It should be present and accounted for at a poll place and Garza himself taking the ballot to those who are not able to get out of bed and make it to the polls. This is a sure way of committing voter fraud right in front of our faces. Be more restrictive with those who qualify for a mail-in vote!!!!
Ralph Cowen thinks is smarter than everyone. Goes around saying that Luis Saenz and his son are close. Must think he is above the law. That guys gotta go!
You can't ignore success.
BND rocks.
Give'm hell Ralph.
God bless all the Cowens clan except the one who raised the BISD taxes 12% in one year. A disgrace.
I will vote for any Port candidate who supports ending the taxes we pay to BND. It is time the public gets a break...since the port "rocks". The CEO of the port believes in the Julieta Garcia method of using tax dollars to waste.
These candidates are not spending money on robo calls or block walkers or mailers. I guess the politiqueras are having a very big pay day for this election. It would be nice to see them all in handcuffs and mugshots.
Taxes, taxes and more taxes by each one of these taxing entities, BISD, City of Brownsville, Cameron County, drainage districts, TSC, Port of Brownsville. Hey elected officials, you guys got to be careful cause one of these days you might all just kill the goose that lays the Golden eggs for you all-the Taxpayer.
The wannabe Rockerfelor Ralph Cowen, was in bed with Charlie Cabler for years, with his double dealing crooked scheme. He is more bent than a butchers hook. He is a lieing Scumbag.
Post a Comment