WILL HEART PROBLEMS KEEP RICK FROM MR. AMIGO JAUNT?

By Juan Montoya

Each year, the Mr. Amigo Association and an entourage composed of their friends and some city officials from Brownsville take a free trip to Mexico City, stay at the best hotels, host sumptuous banquets and wine and dine the years' Mr. Amigo.

This year it will be a relative unknown Arturo Elias Ayub who just happens to be the son-in-law of Mexico's richest man, billionaire tycoon Carlos Slim.

The MAA president Arturo Trevino and the self-appointed board have been defending their selection, but the die is cast and Ayub will come in his private jet to be feted during the Charro Days festivities.

Among those in the entourage to Mexico City will be City of Brownsville District 1 commissioner Ricardo Longoria. Each year, Longoria takes the free jaunt, buys charro outfits, and then makes a tidy profit reselling them in Brownsville.

But this year it is different. Longoria has taken to his Facebook pages to tell his followers - and the world - that despite his recent medical troubles, he will remain a good trouper and continue his DJ business now that the Brownsville School District has granted him three months of paid leave under its 504 disability policy.

During those three months of getting paid to do nothing, DJ Rick was be free to plan his campaign courtesy of the district's taxpayers as he seeks a fifth four-year term in office. So far, three other candidates have said they will challenge him for the stat. One is perennial candidate and former commissioner William Garza, one Michael Rodriguez, and Nurith Galonsky, currently a member of the Brownsville Public Utilities Board.

The question then arises, is Rick endangering his health running a stressful political campaign? And, additionally, by traveling in a plane to Mexico City, will his ticker be taxed by the smog and altitude, about 7,400 feet?

Longoria said that n November of 2017 he was diagnosed with Mitral Valve Regurgitation (Viral Myocarditis) in his heart due to a bad case of bronchitis caused by a viral infection. He said ghe virus inflicted severe damage to his left atrium.

He also said he had a defibrillator surgically implanted in April of 2018 as a precautionary measure and that a cardiology specialist as advised him that at some time "in the future" he could be a candidate for a heart transplant.

Longoria blames the combination of no work and medication for a weight gain of about 30 extra pounds. He assures the voters that his bid for re-election will continue and warns that there will be more pictures of him on social media and especially on the nasty blogs where he has "been described as blowing up like the penguin from Bat-Man.”

"No one can control these types of comments from occurring or people from being evil and cruel, but I did want to put this out there because in reality it is out of my control," Rick plaintively writes.

Let's milk this appeal to sympathy for all it's worth.

He says that "at first, I was told that I wouldn’t live to see my 45th birthday because my illness is referred to as sudden death, but with medication, regular doctor visits and a semi-healthy diet I will prolong my life by many years. My family and close friends have been with me all through the initial shock in supporting me as time progresses."

"I have slowed down, but I refuse to live my life waiting around for something to happen. I am in my 23rd year of teaching and continue to DJ every Thursday and on weekends. And I am close to completing my 16th year of service to this community as your city commissioner.

"I need to be around for my daughter, family, clients and citizens. I continue to monitor and not take chances with my health. I use this platform once again not out of pity or concern, but rather as a clarification to avoid embarrassing situations."

For the meantime, however, Rick is the recipient of three moths of free pay without work, continues doing DJ gigs for private clients and city events, and wants the voters to give him another four years as District 1 commissioner.

And he was recently seen wolfing down some chow at a Taste of La Frontera, the Mr. Amigo Association yearly bash. We hope he practiced moderation.

As for the high life, he won't turn down a good bash in Mexico City and peddle his wares when he comes back home.

We would urge him to watch the smog and elevation en el DF and take it easy on the rich foods and alcohol while there. Once the ticker starts to give out, it's just a matter of time.