IT'S ELECTION DAY, AND HERE ARE OUR DEMOCRATIC LOCAL PICKS

DEMOCRATIC PARTY PRIMARY

CAMERON COUNTY JUDGE

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

The choice is easy.

Do we want a county judge who has verifiable links with the Cartel Del Golfo, like Steve Guerra, whose grandfather was cartel founder Juan N. Guerra, one of his cousins is Juan Abrego Garcia, who is doing 11 life sentences for drug running and money laundering, and a female cousin, Sandra Guerra, who has accepted a plea bargain from federal prosecutors for her role in extortion and of transmigrantes, money laundering, and who calls himself an entrepreneur, but shows no identifiable place of business?

We do know, however, that a company he owned, Warrior Fuel Traders, – while he was a Brownville Navigation District commissioner – did extensive business with Pyrodiesel Del Cento SA de CV, named by the Federal Criminal Intelligence Center of Mexico as a principal in the smuggling of fuel by the Mexican cartels. 

The only reason this came to light was the revelation that Guerra had been sued by a Navasota, Texas fuel seller for an unpaid $300,000 bill. That stench follows him like a cloud despite his protest and that of his followers.

The other candidate in this race is the former Cameron County Sheriff Eric Garza, who left hat office in disgrace. Garza, whose novice management of the sheriff's department caused the feds to pull out their prisoners from county jails, cost the county $3 million, and the prisoners didn't return until new sheriff Manuel "Manny" Treviño cleaned up the mess the former sheriff left behind. 

When Garza left, he left a demoralized department, numerous lawsuits caused by his rampant mismanagement, and a trail of favoritism that divided the department's personnel. He sued the commissioners court. And veteran law enforcement officers lost all respect for the man in charge. 

Garza lost to his successor Treviño – no relation to Eddie Treviño, the incumbent county judge – during the Democratic primary in 2024, and then, in the November general election, hosted Republican nominee Jimmy Manrrique at department events and endorsed him in social media despite having run for the Democratic Party nomination.

Then, all of a sudden, he reappeared this year and filed to run as the third candidate for Cameron County judge as a Democrat after Brownsville Navigation District  chair Steve Guerra announced. Reports by eyewitnesses indicate that both men were seen conversing at a local eatery prior to Garza making his announcement. Garza is a de facto stalking horse to cover for Guerra and get him into a runoff with incumbent Treviño. 

Don't fall for it and waste your vote. In boot camp, the drill instructor told us that if your boots aren't as spit shined as your buddy's next door, don't stand next to him but seek to stand next to someone's whose boots aren't as shiny as yours. Compared to those two, Treviño is the safest choice.

Judge, 107th District Court

By Noe Garza

Dear Friends and Cameron County neighbors,

The black and white photograph below in this post shows me, Noe Domingo Garza, Jr., at five years old, standing with my two older sisters. 

My father took this picture in 1967 on the shores of Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico, to commemorate the day our family received legal residency in the United States. We had traveled there as part of the medical inspection process required for our immigration, and my father wanted to preserve that important moment in our journey.

My name is Noe Domingo Garza, Jr. I was born on August 22, 1962, in a small ranch called El Tahuachal in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. After Hurricane Beulah destroyed our home in 1967, my family immigrated legally to the United States in search of a better future.
I began school in Brownsville at the age of five, and attended Garden Park Elementary when the classrooms were refurbished military barracks and the school still used septic tanks for sanitary services.

My parents worked humble jobs. My father was a custodian at Cummings Intermediate School, and my mother worked in the cafeteria at Hanna High School. 

My father was illiterate and could not read or write, and my mother attended school only through the third grade, not by choice but because of their circumstances. Even so, they believed deeply in education and made sure their children never lacked encouragement, discipline, and hope.

I graduated from Pace High School at seventeen, earned my Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Pan American University at Brownsville, and graduated from Thurgood Marshall School of Law in 1986 at the age of twenty-three.

For thirty-nine years, I have practiced law with an impeccable record with the State Bar of Texas. I am also licensed to practice in the Federal District Court for the Southern District of Texas, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and the Eastern District of Michigan.

Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of helping thousands of families during some of the most difficult and important moments of their lives. I have handled more than 300 jury trials and have always worked to uphold fairness, justice, and dignity in the courtroom.

In 2015, I was honored as Criminal Defense Attorney of the Year by the Cameron County Bar

Association. In 2018, I was recognized by Bishop Flores during the Red Mass for my service to the community. I have also been inducted into the BISD Hall of Fame, served as Principal for a Day, and been honored to speak at Pace High School as a keynote speaker in 2016 and 2022.

But my greatest pride is my family. My wife, Judge Adela Kowalski Garza, and I have been married for thirty-five years, and together we raised three wonderful sons. They are my greatest blessing and my daily motivation to serve with integrity and compassion.

From humble beginnings to a lifetime of service, my journey reflects the American Dream. With faith, hard work, and determination, anything is possible. Everything I am today is because of this community, and I want to give back what I have learned and what I know.

With your help and your vote, I ask for the opportunity to continue serving Cameron County.
Early voting begins on February 17 and ends on February 27. Election Day is March 3.

Please support me so that I may continue to serve our community with experience, fairness, and respect.
Thank you, and may God bless you all.

CAMERON COUNTY TREASURER

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

For 20 years, David Betancourt has promised the voters the world, and delivered nothing. It’s barely been three months since Betancourt began his campaign outreach to Cameron County, and like clockwork, he is out on the hustings reminding voters of his Democratic lineage, and of his “hard work” as Cameron County Treasurer.
As a descendant of true Democrats in his late father Adolfo and late mom Janie, David has sat at the center of Cameron County’s finances as county treasurer. Unfortunately, he’s transformed from a real Democrat into an entrenched part of an old establishment that talks about progress but never delivers.

Year after year, without shame, David requested pay raises from the Cameron County Commissioners Court and never once in all of those 20 years did he fight for employee raises. Instead, he fought for himself. 

The Cameron County Commissioners Court, this year, finally appeased the king by giving him a raise of $12,693 FY 2025-2026, lifting his total compensation from $83,676 to $96,368.

A closer analysis reveals, after two decades, taxpayers aren’t seeing results for their money; they’re seeing higher bills, stale leadership, and a treasurer who’s more interested in holding the title than doing the job.

Now, as he faces a challenger in former JP Jonathan Gracia who has openly called for change and lower taxes on our homes, Betancourt has literally, and conveniently, altered his campaign signs promising to – you guessed it – to lower taxes in a epiphany election. This new tune sounds less like reform and more like desperation to keep the Betancourt gravy train going.

(After Gracia called for lower taxes, Betancourt's signs conveniently plastered an addition saying he was "helping to lower taxes," while giving himself a salary raise.)

Let’s be honest: David Betancourt has become the definition of complacency. He rarely shows up to work, stays detached from the community he’s supposed to serve, and hasn’t led with initiative or engagement. While other public servants step up to make Cameron County stronger, he’s been content to coast — a taker, not a giver. He doesn’t contribute, he doesn't connect, and he doesn’t care to show up unless someone else throws a party or there’s a campaign sign nearby.

It's a breath of fresh air that current county judge Eddie Treviño has called on all "real Democrats" to tally around our party. We're Democrats and should be justly proud to uphold and promote our ideals.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, everyone will acknowledge that the Democrats are under siege by the Republicans in Cameron County and across South Texas. It’s going to take energetic and engaged leaders to withstand the attacks that will not stop for the foreseeable future. Don’t look to David Betancourt for any help there.

Betancourt –has ridden his family’s coattails his entire life. Up to now he hasn't had to work or worry because his name recognition has carried him to a campaign victory, and he has flaunted his entitlement to public office – and check – as if it was a family heirloom.

Now Betancourt, after 20 years of minimal effort and maximum self-interest, wants one more four-year term. But for who? For him – or for us? If two decades of inaction weren’t enough time to make a difference, what could possibly change in another four years?

Change will not come from the Betancourt dynasty. Change will come from the people of Cameron County. And this year, that change starts at the ballot box. 

TEXAS GOVERNOR

Team Gina

Here’s where we stand: We’ve received the endorsement of every major newspaper in Texas. We’re polling only 3 points behind Abbott — the same margin that sent Ann Richards to office. We just watched Democrat Taylor Rehmet flip a deep-red Senate district by 14 points.

Everything is in our favor to win. And it all starts with this election.

Today it is critical we carry this momentum — that even Abbott’s warchest can’t deny — through November. Abbott and the Republicans are watching this race closely. He knows whoever wins the Democratic primary will be a major threat, and he’s ready to attack.

That’s why this final day matters. Every dollar you give right now will help Get Out the Vote, through final texts, calls, and door knocks.

Today, when the polls open, hundreds of thousands of voters will use their ballot to say who they want to be the next Governor. And I’m ready.

Your vote has power. Power to elect leaders who will fight for our communities, our rights, and our future.