MISS WORLD SERIES? IN SHERIFF'S RACE, HITS KEEP ON COMING

By Juan Montoya

We had said in a previous post that in this political season the race for the Democratic party nomination would provide plenty of fireworks.

So if you missed the World Series (which the Astros lost), not to worry, the hits will just keep on coming in the race between incumbent Omar Lucio and former Cameron County District Clerk Eric Garza.

The Astros, unfortunately came up short, so we will have to be satisfied with updates on our local political races. They are just as entertaining, if not more enlightening. Take for example, the television ads run by Garza against Lucio who comes across as a dottering old man without a clue.

It's amazing that Garza is still able to kick out the moolah for the snazzy ads. After he left the position and the district judges tapped Elvira Ortiz to replace him, few thought that he would wage a scorched earth campaign against Lucio. But, apparently, he is swinging for the fences in his bid to upend Lucio's 20-year reign at the helm. Along the way, however, he will have to contend with the Reyna brothers, who insiders say really run the show over at Carrizales.

A few of us were discussing the race and Garza's ads at a local watering hole and wondered whether the electorate will appreciate his no-hold barred approach to winning the race or whether they will elicit sympathy or pity for his opponent. Could it backfire?

You run to win, we concurred, and it's all or nothing at this point, much like Hernan Cortez did when he burned his ships at Veracruz or Ceasar when crossed the Rubicon. To use baseball parlance, once you commit to stealing second, you don't hesitate or look back.
Click on the link to see for yourself. https://www.facebook.com/ElectEricGarzaForSheriff/videos/722956404890415/

Garza's second televised ad in one short month highlights criticism that has swirls around the management at the department. He addresses the eight sheriff deputies that got caught cheating on the county exam (Lucio did fire some of them after the scandal broke, to his credit), and even announcing for his reelection during working hours. Say what you will about Garza's bare-knuckle tactics, but no one can accuse him of not trying.

We heard the ads have hit home at the department and it appears to have fueled renewed efforts to paint the county with Lucio signs. We have a race here, folks!

What started out as a tame contest is generating plenty of heat now. There are a full four months to go until the March 2020 primary and it will be interesting to see whether these two hoses can make it to the finish line. Who will emerge at the end, the novice or the old sage?

Campaigns are often unseemly and brutal affairs and the only one thing that counts is to be the one standing after the dust has settled. Let's not forget that there also a Republican candidate (John Chambers) waiting in the wings to take on the victor.

Garza's ad asks "Where is the sheriff?" Before it's all over, Lucio (or his minions) may have to answer the question. Who's on first?