I HUMBLY ASK YOU LET ME CONTINUE TO PAAAAARTY!

By Juan Montoya

In one his contribution and expense reports, District 37 Texas State Representative Rene Oliveira reported back in 2011 he had spent $40,063 and had received no contributions.

However, he also reported that he had $159,519.27 left in his war chest for the coming primary election in 2012.

But J.J. Garza, his administrative assistant, foresaw dark clouds on the political horizon and wrote his boss: "I think you need to develop a satisfactory answer to the following facts of the (expenditure report)," Garza wrote.

"In the 181 days (your account) paid for meals and/or drinks for supporters and/or constituents almost 200 times (actually 197) for a total of more than$13,000 (actually $13,360). In some cases these expenditures occurred as many as four times in a day, and make up one-third of your total expenditures.

"Fifty six of those times were Valley establishments – 50 times during the regular session and six times during the special session. This means that you entertained supporters and constituents in Austin about 150 times during the 140-day regular session. Considering that often the Austin week is less than a full week – the House met in session just 101 of those 140 days – that means means you were entertaining supporters or constituents an average of 1.5 times per day the House was in session.

"Over the 181 day reporting period, you averaged almost $74 per day in entertaining expenses.
"Why do you need to spend so much, when your Valley colleagues are spending as little as 10 to 20 percent of what you are spending on supporters and constituents?," Garza asks in his memo.

"I think you should prepare yourself for heavy criticism from them and the media and their readers," Garza warns the festive rep.

But Oliveira, heedless of his assistant's warnings, continued his glutton ways.

From 2007 to 2016, The Texas Monitor reported that "Oliveira has treated his constituents and associates to plenty of campaign-funded meals. Cobbleheads Bar & Grill tops the list, with $41,609.02 spent on 531 occasions. Other Brownsville restaurants where Oliveira has paid for meals include Madeira ($13,281.81) and Toscafino’s ($13,134.35.)

(That's the same establishment he left April 27, two weeks ago, when he slammed into a woman from behind while driving under the influence and left the scene before police arrived. Police found the car at his house with both tires flat and extensive damage to the front end. He refused to take the alcohol blood test or a sobriety test and was arrested.)

"An examination of campaign fund expenditure...shows that the Democrat from Brownsville spent at least $16,105 at liquor stories between Jan. 1, 2007 and Dec. 31, 2016, with descriptions that include “beverages for capitol office” and “beverages for district office for constituents.

"Those expenditures, which include $6,228.33 at Jones Liquor and $5,730.54 at Ben’s Liquor, both in Brownsville, are part of a total of more than $250,000 Oliveira has spent out of his campaign funds over the past decade on extravagant living for himself and gifts for his constituents."

(P.S: This Monday, District 37 voters have an opportunity to help Oliveria stop his binging and perhaps save his life and the life of others who might get in his way when he is drinking and driving. Vote for his opponent, Cameron County Pct. 2 Commissioner Alex Dominguez and bring back sanity to our state representation. Early voting begins Monday and ends Friday. Election Day is Tuesday, May 22. Make your vote count.)