LUCIO ENDORSES CHAMBERS; WILL LIGHTNING STRIKE TWICE?

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

"Sometimes Party Loyalty Asks Too Much." President John F. Kennedy

That quote was placed in an ad titled "An Appeal to Reason" placed in Cameron County newspapers by a then twentysomething Brownsville attorney named Tony Garza.

But before the election, county judge Jack Gooslby died and Democratic party precinct chairs nominated former county judge Ray Ramon to be on the November ballot. Garza, who had been running for county district attorney, switched and challenged Ramon.

Astonishingly, a series of events developed that propelled Garza to be the first Hispanic Republican elected to countywide office. Incredibly, three of the four county commissioners endorsed Garza over Ramon, with whom they shared a contentious relationship. In 1988 he took over the helm of the county, a position he kept by being reelected where he served until 1995.

Since then, Republicans like former Cameron County Carlos Cascos have hit upon the Garza formula: Count on the 38 percent of registered Republican voters in the county and try to get the other 12 percent plus one vote to take them over the top.

A lot will depend on whether Chambers is able to garner more endorsements from other Democrats in law enforcement. If he can, the sheriff's election becomes a toss-up, something very few observers thought possible.

In the case of the Cascos defeat in the last election, the loss was credited to the "Beto Wave" which toppled Republicans across the state even though he lost. Is Chambers counting on the "Trump Wave" among Hispanics this November to carry him over Garza?

Chambers is hoping that lightning will strike in the same place twice. In other words, he is hoping Cameron County voters will use hindsight in 2020.

In his letter of endorsement which was already circulating on Facebook even before the 1 p.m. announcement (click on graphic to enlarge), Lucio said that despite being a lifelong Democrat, he had decided to endorse "the Democratic nominee," without mentioning Garza.

"The sheriff's office has grown, become more efficient, and most importantly, is free of the corruption that my predecessor (Conrado Cantu) left."

"I will not cast my vote blue (Democrat) in the sheriff's race. I strongly and wholeheartedly believe that electing the democratic nominee for sheriff would be a step in the wrong direction at this time," his statement reads.

Before the primary runoff against Garza, the former district clerk's supporters accused the Reyna brothers (Chief Deputy Gus and Capt. Javier) of being the power behind the throne in the campaign. Now some are saying that the Lucio endorsement of Republican Chambers is nothing more than their sour grapes ploy to elect Chambers, then disqualify him from taking office by raising the past charges and convictions (since overturned) to install their own candidate.

With a little less than three months to go before Nov. 3, this battle royale is far from over.