AT-LARGE B: DR. ZAVALETTA-GOWEN'S CHARMED EXISTENCE; SPENDS MILLIONS FOR TRAILS, PAYS NO CITY PROPERTY TAXES

Special to El Run-Rrun

As a member of a local pioneer family, At-Large B City of Brownsville Commissioner Dr. Rose Zavaletta-Gowen has led a charmed existence.

The Zavalettas (notice the two "T"s), were descendants of the family which has been traced to have originated in the Basque region of Spain and traveled with the conquistadores to Mexico. The family eventually moved north and one branch settled in Brownsville.

Her uncle Dr. Joe Zavaletta – a sometimes haughty, arrogant man – ran  for several political positions and retired after 30 years as a medical doctor. He was one of the first Republicans in Cameron County.

That trait has carried over to his niece and it sometimes surfaces during city commissioner meetings. A gynecologist, she also feels that she knows better than anyone and has a monopoly on the truth. Her influence on the city commission has resulted in guiding millions of public dollars to establish hike and bike trails, her pet project on her two terms on the city commission. 

With a term limit proposition on the ballot this May 1, the wording on the proposition excludes her from the limits since, if passed, they won't go into effect until her term ends. The effects of the term limits proposal on her means that it will be as if she had just started her first term. The spirit of the law? No, not really, but because she is a Zavaletta (two "T"s) means that rules for mere mortals don't apply to her.

Curiously, although Gowen has already served two

terms and is serving a third running fir a fourth the limits will not apply to her since they would not take effect until after the voters decide whether to approve the charter changes in the same election. 

She faces local gadfly and past Brownsville Independent School District board member Erasmo Castro and newcomer Yuritzi Peña, a new face who lists her occupation as assistant director of a day care center. Unfortunately for city taxpayers, most political observers expect her to cruise in to her third term. But stranger things have happened. Cross your fingers.

Could they do worse at splurging on public public funds like this?

Gowen believes in the "nanny" government and pushes her agenda for healthy living and exercise on the trials.

But she also believes in her entitlement. Her 1961-circa home, appraised at $368,491, is designated as a historical building and exempts her from paying any taxes to the city, college district, the port or the county. Her family didn't build the home, but she says that there are historical objects that trace the relationship between Tejano ranchers and the Anglo cattle ranching class that merit historical recognition – and tax exemption. 

Because of that designation, she has paid no city taxes since 2018. Her latest take from the city's kitty has been the 2020 issue of $13 million Certificates Of Obligations where $875,000 went toward hike and bike trail, to be paid, of course, by city taxpayers. (See graphic at right. Click on graphic to enlarge.)

In July 2019, The GBIC brought a plan before the city commission by a Mexican confections company that was going to manufacture candy for sale nationwide. It was going to add 15 jobs and retain another 20 at $15.00 an hour.

The project was nixed when Gowen complained that it was a not good for people's wellness and healthy habits and the project was dropped. So at least 15 more families were deprived of an opportunity to improve their economic well being to please her druhters. Let them ride bike for their health instead, was the reasoning. Then she held up approving the GBIC budget because she wanted the GBIC to contribute to buying T-shirts advocating healthy habits

And when former mayor Tony Martinez tried the Great Lincoln Park Giveaway to the University of Texas System, she voted in favor of it until local blogger Bobby Wightman pointed out that as an employee of the Texas Health System she was conflicted and never should have voted. The public thought different and the giveaway fizzled.

Her allegiance to her her socioeconomic class is rock solid. When residents of E. Fronton, the majority of them working-class Hispanics, protested the planned renaming of their historical street to the McNair Family Drive, she insisted that the city administration draft a new ordinance that established the rules and process for naming a street. 

The residents complied with the new rules and a majority signed a petition to keep the historic name. But when it came time for the vote on the name change, Gowen sided with the gueros like a true gachupin and went back on her promise that she would honor the process. She, after all, is one of the city's Good People and has to side with her class over the revolting peasants.

Commissioners John Cowen and Jessica Tetreau sided with the McNairs over the people, too. Blood's thicker than mud.

Early voting for the May 1 election is Monday, April 19. We, unfortunately, appear to be doomed in the At-Large B race to bear another four years with this freeloader who loves to fund her pet projects with Other People's Money (OPM).