CITY MANAGER, ATTORNEY, LIKE ASTROS, IN PLAYOFFS

By Juan Montoya

After weeks of stiff competition, the choice for city manager and city attorney will be left in the hands of four members of the City of Brownsville commission.

The pre-game formalities aside, it will be up to the commission majority to decide – tonight – which two individuals will manage the city and advice the commissioners on municipal law.

Yesterday, the three remaining candidates for the city manager's spot were presented to the public. We say public, of course, but those attending say that the bulk of those there were city administrators and employees who came to meet the new boss, whichever may be chosen.

The finalists introduced to the gathered bureaucrats were Noel Bernal, Juan Guerra and Jesus A. Garza.

Garza, from Pharr, has been city manager since his appointment in 2015.

Guerra, a Brownsville native, was appointed city manager of Kingsville, also in 2015.

Bernal, was named as assistant city manager for the city of Coppell in 2017.

As you can readily tell, all three have one thing in common: they are all very young. That probably started the Brownsville swamp denizens' salivary glands flowing at the prospect of dealing with these chillun'. Whoever is chosen better get ready for a learning experience, to put it mildly.

We wish them well, although they will discover that city administrators are pretty much set in their ways and don't take to advice (or directives) particularly well.

The city attorney candidates were Gary Linan, Lysia Bowling and Rene De Coss.

Let the playoffs begin! Let's go 'Stros!