Wednesday, October 3, 2018

"DEADBEAT" CORTEZ EYES BISD'S $550 MILLION BUDGET


By Juan Montoya

One of the five candidates who wants you to vote for him to manage the Brownsville Independent School District's $550 million budget has had a court issue a $12,023 debt judgment against him and is negotiating to pay off an additional bad debt of $2,335.61 with another lender who took him to his mother's JP small claims court.

Mark Anthony Cortez, the son of JP 2-1 Linda Salazar, had a summary judgment issued against him in County Court-at-Law #2 on March 28, 2018 for a debt he owed Citibank. The records do not reflect whether Citibank recovered any of the money. (See graphic at right. Click to enlarge.)

Although Cortez's slogan is "leadership that inspires," about the only thing it has inspired so far is lawsuits by his lenders.

And a law firm representing another lender (originally Walmart credit card) has given notice to the JP 2-1 Linda Salazar that they have "recently reached a settlement in the form of a lump sum" for the $2,335.61 he owed on the card.

That case was pending in Salazar's court earlier this year and charges that Cortez (2018-FDC-00525), had failed to pay $2,335.61 since February 7, 2017 on a Walmart credit card. That account was sold to Midland Funding who then sued for collection.

That lawsuit ended at Linda's court since April 2018 and remains pending until the lender is paid at which time they say they will enter a Notice of Nonsuit.

The agreement was entered into the record Sept. 14, 2018. After failing to respond to the suit to collect, Cortez contacted them following the posting of the story on this blog August 24.

And, after a complaint was filed with the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct for not recusing herself from her son's case, Salazar had her colleague – and best buddy – JP 5-1 Sally Gonzalez, of Harlingen, approve the negotiations between Cortez and the lender's attorneys.

Cortez is facing four other opponents in the Position 1 race for the seat left vacant when incumbent Cesar Lopez decided not to seek reelection. They are (in order of the ballot)  1. Caty Presas-Garcia, 2. Jose Valdez, 3. Drue Brown,  4. Cortez, and 5. Timmy Ramirez.

As a member of the board, the office holders hold a huge sway on the education of some 43,000 students, and 7,500 employees. The BISD is the city's largest employer and operates budgets of more than $500 million annually. The economic spin off from spending those funds will reverberate across the city and region's economy.

The BISD – through a Tax Restructuring Election and a 11.5 percent increase in property taxes – is now in the midst of a construction binge that could top $100 million in the next five years. It's enough to make any contractor's mouth water. Who will get the contracts, get a job with the district, or be promoted to a higher - and better paying - position, is influenced by who sits on the board, although many will try to deny it.

It is, in a sense, the most important election in the city and affects thousands of families and their livelihoods, and, oh yeah, their children's education. 

Do we need someone overseeing its operation on the board when they apparently can't (or won't)  manage his own finances?

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Remember that YOU CAN'T GET RICH IN POLITICS UNLESS YOU ARE A CROOK. Harry Truman. Boy or boy do we have the crooks in Brownsville.

Anonymous said...

Even bloggers take their dirty money. LOL

Anonymous said...

If you live in a cesspool, you expect it, no? Si!

General Patton said...

Folks BISD BUDGET IS OVER HALF A BILLION DOLLARS $$$$ ch ching, Why do you all think these people want to be trustees? just do the math 1% equals LOTS OF MONEY,, think about it. Que for the KIDs-yea Right.

Anonymous said...

Puros tquaches this familia orpur RATAS

Anonymous said...

Juan, you know who the White Horse is. Help us find him, Mark Reagan (B,vill Herald reporter) knows who the White Horse is, help us find him. Where can we find him?

Anonymous said...

11.47
He is grazing on the land on Mexico Blvd, with the Wannabe Land Tycoon Ralph Cowen.

Anonymous said...

You guy's envy and are jealous of the White Horse popularity. We need somebody like him to speak for us and represent us the, middle class. Us american's.

Anonymous said...

Who is Ralph Cowen? The White Horse want's to know, who is this man? Is he anybody significant with plans to better his community or himself?

Anonymous said...

The White Horse does not know Ralph Cowen, who is this Ralph Cowen?

Anonymous said...

He is the Wannabe Shipping Tycoon at the port, who is as corrupt as the scumbag Limas, and Charlie Cabler, and has the City planning department deep in his pocket. Just remember The wannabe Tycoon and you will know Ralph Cowen.

chon said...

Juan was Cowen on the port of Brownsville board when they did the famous bridge to no where deal $22 million dollars lost? mmm interesting, its all about the benjamins right?

Anonymous said...

procreation for a profit

rita