KNOW THE REAL RUBEN CORTEZ IN RUNOFF AGAINST JONATHAN GRACIA FOR TEXAS RESPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 34

(Ed.'s Note: One of our eight readers from up the valley sent us this mass social message aired by Tejanos Against Corruption PAC reminding voters of what Brownsville resident Ruben Cortez – in a runoff against former JP Jonathan Gracia for Texas House of Representatives District 34 – did while in public office. Cortez, like a recurring nightmare, is once again trying to bamboozle the voters with his smooth criminal act and hopes the district residents have by now forgotten his unenviable performance which ended costing taxpayers millions. Refresh your mind with this.)

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

Taken from the Federal lawsuit by former School

Superintendent Hector Gonzales:

CORTEZ TRYING TO RIG INSURANCE CONTRACTS TOWARD PAL JOHNNY CAVAZOS:

Cortez, who has a H.S. diploma (GED?) became one of 15 new members to the Texas School Board of Education and ran against Celeste Zepeda Sanchez, who has a Bachelor's and Master's degree and has been an educator for 45 years.

With early voting starting on May 20th, please don't forget what Cortez accomplished as a BISD trustee. From the lawsuit in state court by former Superintendent Hector Gonzales:

February 2007: (Ruben) Cortez visited Gonzales and told him he did not want insurance provider Healthsmart as the new insurance carrier for the district. He told Gonzales that he and the other (co-conspirators) wanted Mutual of Omaha, or any other firm in which Johnny Cavazos would be the agent. Gonzales said he would not participate in this conspiracy.

March 2007: Cortez approached Gonzales again on the same issue and insisted that Gonzales only recommend one of Cavazos' insurance firms for the upcoming insurance contract. Again, Gonzales refused to join the conspiracy.

Dec. 2007 to February 2008:(Rolando) Aguilar, (Ruben) Cortez, and (Joe) Colunga met with Gonzales to discuss their "concerns" regarding the upcoming health insurance contract. They made it clear that they did not want Healthsmart, but one of Cavazos' companies.

Sept. 16, 2008:CFO Antonio Juarez recommended AAG/Berkley for the Stop-Loss Insurance contract which was not adopted by the board at that meeting. Afterwards, Cortez visited Gonzales in his office and told him he did not like the recommendation and didn't like "being lied to." Gonzales said he would have Tony Resendez, counsel with Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Brown and Schultze to look into the matter. Resendez recommended the matter be handled administratively with a warning to Juarez that perhaps he did "not communicate effectively" to the board.

Oct. 21, 2008:Cortez requested a consent item on the agenda related to "apparent misinformation" directed toward board members on insurance contract. Another "superintendent evaluation" was placed on agenda but no action was taken. Aguilar. Cortez, and Colunga all met with Gonzales separately after the meeting regarding Juarez. Each conveyed to Gonzales that they wanted him to fire Juarez for "lying" to them regarding the Stop-Loss insurance contract they wanted to go to Cavazos. They all wanted Gonzales to fire him and then give a recommendation to Cavazo's company.

When Gonzales didn't fire Juarez, but instead reassigned him to a grant administrator position, Cortez's reaction was immediate. – "Upon discovering the reassignment, trustees Aguilar and Cortez went to Gonzales' office outraged.They both screamed: "Why didn't you fire Tony? Why didn't you just terminate him?"

SUBVERTING THE BISD'S GRIEVANCE PROCESS TO "GET HIS ENEMIES":

– Immediately after the Sept. 23, 2008 board meeting: Gonzales and board members attended CUBE convention in Las Vegas and Cortez approached Gonzales and told him the current board did not extend his contract because they were going to "hold him hostage." He also said his job "was on the line" and that the superintendent needed to "prove that he would do as they directed" and to "start proving himself by firing (former Special Services Director Art) Rendon because that would make Colunga very happy."

Further, Cortez said there was going to "be a change" and that Gonzales needed to "play ball with his side" or be fired. He also said that once Zayas was elected, they would have the majority vote and that they wanted the current insurance policy cancelled and a new insurance policy to be awarded to Cavazos. Cortez also told Gonzales they wanted Rendon fired and his contract terminated immediately. Further, Cortez warned that Gonzales "needs to listen to him because they will be in control and all he has to do is do what they tell him to do" because "this was the way Brownsville operated."

– In the days and months following this episode: The BISD majority and its co-conspirators tried to procure false grievances against Gonzales in a further attempt to discredit, discriminate against, and terminate him.

– Sept. 18, 2009: Because of his refusal to stop and/or silence efforts to uncover and expose illegal and other improper activity of the conspiracy, Gonzales was terminated. He further charges in his petition that the conspirators – including Cortez – "manipulated and created evidence, coerced and intimidated witnesses, gave false testimony, and falsified records to make it appear that the Special Services Department was in a financial mess and in an organizational shambles. Further, the conspirators controlled, corrupted, and manipulated the entire grievance and appeal procedure such that the outcomes of specific and selected cases at the conspirators' choosing, were pre-determined."

SO THIS IS "KEEPING POLITICS OUT OF THE CLASSROOM"

Also May 2008: Cortez went to Gonzales and instructed him to promote his wife to principal of Benavides Elementary. Cortez threatened Gonzales that "if he wanted to remain at BISD as superintendent, he should make it happen. Gonzales said he could not oblige such a request. Cortez responded "we will see what happens." Cortez was also in the majority sued by former Special Needs Department Director Art Rendon, who stated in a sworn deposition in his case (Southern District of Texas 1:10-cv-00198) that:

"58. On or about June, 2008, Ruben Cortez, a sitting board member on BISD, contacted Plaintiff directly via telephone. He (Cortez) instructed Plaintiff to hire his sister, Linda Aguilar, for summer school employment as a Special Education teacher.

59. Plaintiff informed Mr. Cortez that BISD had hiring policies in place and instructed him that the hiring application for the summer of 2008 had already been accepted and processed.

60. Cortez sent Plaintiff his sister's application and insisted Plaintiff call her immediately and give her a job. Plaintiff set up a meeting between Cortez's sister Linda, Ana Lerma, who was a Special Education supervisor, and Dr. Lee Garcia, Assistant Director for Special Services. At the meeting, Ruben Cortez's orders were followed, and Linda Aguilar was given a job for the summer of 2008.*Source: https://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/search?q=Ruben+cortez&m=1



THE REAL RUBEN CORTEZ:

Ethics Complaints

Cortez TX Ethics Commission Complaint 2-5-24Download document


Cortez TX Ethics Commission Complaint 11-28-23Download document

Tax Delinquency
Tax Document 1Download document


Tax Document 2Download document

Federal Lawsuits


Judge Hanen Decision 6-23-10Download document

NEWS SCANDALS

BAD FOR TEXAS

He (Cortez) was hired as a grant writer by Ruben Gallegos Sr. and Ruben Gallegos Jr. for International Educational Services (IES), a shelter for migrant minors that was shut down by the federal government after it was revealed - among other things - that the Gallegos had been paying themselves between $600,000 to and $700,000 in violation of federal guidelines.

And he won't say that he was getting around $70,000 as a "grant writer," although there is no mention of what grants he wrote or whether they were successful.

Not profiting from the misery of children? Did he refuse the cash or return it once he found out? Hardly.

Cortez even got the AFT teacher's union to issue a scathing assessment of the charter schools and migrant centers in Texas and they issued a statement saying:

“Anyone associated...with the troubling work of building and running a child prison camp should be disqualified from running for office..."

And what was IES for whom Cortez worked and received his inflated salary if not that?

And if the AFT had done their due diligence they would discover that Cortez was actively pursuing the establishment of a charter school in Brownsville which would have been in competition for state funding with public schools.

People from Brownsville remember when Cortez was trying to raise seed money to establish one here, going as far as to contact Ray Montanero – among others – to invest in the scheme that would leave a nice pile of cash from public-school funding in his bulging pockets.

"Everyone remembers thinking, why is Cortez pushing for a charter school when he's a member of the Texas State Board of Education and trying to fund a charter school in competition with the public schools when he was a BISD school board member where his wife is a principal commanding a $100,000 salary from the public schools,?" recalled a former county administrator.

And if the AFT had done their due diligence they would have discovered that Cortez was actively pursuing the establishment of a charter school in Brownsville which would have been in competition for state funding with public schools."Criticizing his opponent Luis Villarreal for having worked for one year while he (Cortez) was receiving his $70,000 from I.E.S. is the height of hypocrisy, a hypocrisy that has characterized all of Ruben's public life," he added.

(Ed.'s Note: Ruben Gallegos Sr. and Ruben Gallegos Jr. are scheduled to go on trial for conspiracy to steal from federal grants and embezzlement this September 3. IES finance director Juan Gonzalez, Sr.'s father-in-law and political uncle to Ruben Gallegos Jr., has pleaded guilty and will turn state's evidence in the government's case against the two men.)



*Source: https://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2022/02/ruben-cortez-pot-calling-kettle-black.html





Tejanos Against Corruption PAC is a political action committee made up of Texans dedicated to promoting transparency, accountability, and honesty in the political system. Through its efforts, Tejanos Against Corruption PAC seeks to empower voters with information to make informed decisions and elect strong leaders.
© 2024 Tejanos Against Corruption PAC. All Rights Reserved.

THE REAL RUBEN CORTEZ: GRACIA OBVIOUS CHOICE FOR D-37

 (Ed.'s Note: One of our eight readers from up the valley sent us this mass social message aired by Tejanos Against Corruption PAC reminding voters of what Brownsville resident Ruben Cortez – in a runoff against former JP Jonathan Gracia for Texas House of Representatives District 34 – did while in public office. Cortez, like a recurring nightmare, is once again trying to bamboozle the voters with his smooth criminal act and hopes the district residents have by now forgotten his unenviable performance which ended costing taxpayers millions. Refresh your mind with this.)

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

Taken from the Federal lawsuit by former School

Superintendent Hector Gonzales:

CORTEZ TRYING TO RIG INSURANCE CONTRACTS TOWARD PAL JOHNNY CAVAZOS:

Cortez, who has a H.S. diploma (GED?) became one of 15 new members to the Texas School Board of Education and ran against Celeste Zepeda Sanchez, who has a Bachelor's and Master's degree and has been an educator for 45 years.

With early voting starting on May 20th, please don't forget what Cortez accomplished as a BISD trustee. From the lawsuit in state court by former Superintendent Hector Gonzales:

February 2007: (Ruben) Cortez visited Gonzales and told him he did not want insurance provider Healthsmart as the new insurance carrier for the district. He told Gonzales that he and the other (co-conspirators) wanted Mutual of Omaha, or any other firm in which Johnny Cavazos would be the agent. Gonzales said he would not participate in this conspiracy.

March 2007: Cortez approached Gonzales again on the same issue and insisted that Gonzales only recommend one of Cavazos' insurance firms for the upcoming insurance contract. Again, Gonzales refused to join the conspiracy.

Dec. 2007 to February 2008:(Rolando) Aguilar, (Ruben) Cortez, and (Joe) Colunga met with Gonzales to discuss their "concerns" regarding the upcoming health insurance contract. They made it clear that they did not want Healthsmart, but one of Cavazos' companies.

Sept. 16, 2008:CFO Antonio Juarez recommended AAG/Berkley for the Stop-Loss Insurance contract which was not adopted by the board at that meeting. Afterwards, Cortez visited Gonzales in his office and told him he did not like the recommendation and didn't like "being lied to." Gonzales said he would have Tony Resendez, counsel with Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Brown and Schultze to look into the matter. Resendez recommended the matter be handled administratively with a warning to Juarez that perhaps he did "not communicate effectively" to the board.

Oct. 21, 2008:Cortez requested a consent item on the agenda related to "apparent misinformation" directed toward board members on insurance contract. Another "superintendent evaluation" was placed on agenda but no action was taken. Aguilar. Cortez, and Colunga all met with Gonzales separately after the meeting regarding Juarez. Each conveyed to Gonzales that they wanted him to fire Juarez for "lying" to them regarding the Stop-Loss insurance contract they wanted to go to Cavazos. They all wanted Gonzales to fire him and then give a recommendation to Cavazo's company.

When Gonzales didn't fire Juarez, but instead reassigned him to a grant administrator position, Cortez's reaction was immediate. – "Upon discovering the reassignment, trustees Aguilar and Cortez went to Gonzales' office outraged.They both screamed: "Why didn't you fire Tony? Why didn't you just terminate him?"

SUBVERTING THE BISD'S GRIEVANCE PROCESS TO "GET HIS ENEMIES":

– Immediately after the Sept. 23, 2008 board meeting: Gonzales and board members attended CUBE convention in Las Vegas and Cortez approached Gonzales and told him the current board did not extend his contract because they were going to "hold him hostage." He also said his job "was on the line" and that the superintendent needed to "prove that he would do as they directed" and to "start proving himself by firing (former Special Services Director Art) Rendon because that would make Colunga very happy."

Further, Cortez said there was going to "be a change" and that Gonzales needed to "play ball with his side" or be fired. He also said that once Zayas was elected, they would have the majority vote and that they wanted the current insurance policy cancelled and a new insurance policy to be awarded to Cavazos. Cortez also told Gonzales they wanted Rendon fired and his contract terminated immediately. Further, Cortez warned that Gonzales "needs to listen to him because they will be in control and all he has to do is do what they tell him to do" because "this was the way Brownsville operated."

– In the days and months following this episode: The BISD majority and its co-conspirators tried to procure false grievances against Gonzales in a further attempt to discredit, discriminate against, and terminate him.

– Sept. 18, 2009: Because of his refusal to stop and/or silence efforts to uncover and expose illegal and other improper activity of the conspiracy, Gonzales was terminated. He further charges in his petition that the conspirators – including Cortez – "manipulated and created evidence, coerced and intimidated witnesses, gave false testimony, and falsified records to make it appear that the Special Services Department was in a financial mess and in an organizational shambles. Further, the conspirators controlled, corrupted, and manipulated the entire grievance and appeal procedure such that the outcomes of specific and selected cases at the conspirators' choosing, were pre-determined."

SO THIS IS "KEEPING POLITICS OUT OF THE CLASSROOM"

Also May 2008: Cortez went to Gonzales and instructed him to promote his wife to principal of Benavides Elementary. Cortez threatened Gonzales that "if he wanted to remain at BISD as superintendent, he should make it happen. Gonzales said he could not oblige such a request. Cortez responded "we will see what happens." Cortez was also in the majority sued by former Special Needs Department Director Art Rendon, who stated in a sworn deposition in his case (Southern District of Texas 1:10-cv-00198) that:

"58. On or about June, 2008, Ruben Cortez, a sitting board member on BISD, contacted Plaintiff directly via telephone. He (Cortez) instructed Plaintiff to hire his sister, Linda Aguilar, for summer school employment as a Special Education teacher.

59. Plaintiff informed Mr. Cortez that BISD had hiring policies in place and instructed him that the hiring application for the summer of 2008 had already been accepted and processed.

60. Cortez sent Plaintiff his sister's application and insisted Plaintiff call her immediately and give her a job. Plaintiff set up a meeting between Cortez's sister Linda, Ana Lerma, who was a Special Education supervisor, and Dr. Lee Garcia, Assistant Director for Special Services. At the meeting, Ruben Cortez's orders were followed, and Linda Aguilar was given a job for the summer of 2008.*Source: https://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/search?q=Ruben+cortez&m=1

THE REAL RUBEN CORTEZ:

Ethics Complaints

Cortez TX Ethics Commission Complaint 2-5-24Download document


Cortez TX Ethics Commission Complaint 11-28-23Download document

Tax Delinquency
Tax Document 1Download document


Tax Document 2Download document

Federal Lawsuits


Judge Hanen Decision 6-23-10Download document

NEWS SCANDALS

BAD FOR TEXAS

He (Cortez) was hired as a grant writer by Ruben Gallegos Sr. and Ruben Gallegos Jr. for International Educational Services (IES), a shelter for migrant minors that was shut down by the federal government after it was revealed - among other things - that the Gallegos had been paying themselves between $600,000 to and $700,000 in violation of federal guidelines.

And he won't say that he was getting around $70,000 as a "grant writer," although there is no mention of what grants he wrote or whether they were successful.

Not profiting from the misery of children? Did he refuse the cash or return it once he found out? Hardly.

Cortez even got the AFT teacher's union to issue a scathing assessment of the charter schools and migrant centers in Texas and they issued a statement saying:

“Anyone associated...with the troubling work of building and running a child prison camp should be disqualified from running for office..."

And what was IES for whom Cortez worked and received his inflated salary if not that?

And if the AFT had done their due diligence they would discover that Cortez was actively pursuing the establishment of a charter school in Brownsville which would have been in competition for state funding with public schools.

People from Brownsville remember when Cortez was trying to raise seed money to establish one here, going as far as to contact Ray Montanero – among others – to invest in the scheme that would leave a nice pile of cash from public-school funding in his bulging pockets.

"Everyone remembers thinking, why is Cortez pushing for a charter school when he's a member of the Texas State Board of Education and trying to fund a charter school in competition with the public schools when he was a BISD school board member where his wife is a principal commanding a $100,000 salary from the public schools,?" recalled a former county administrator.

And if the AFT had done their due diligence they would have discovered that Cortez was actively pursuing the establishment of a charter school in Brownsville which would have been in competition for state funding with public schools."Criticizing his opponent Luis Villarreal for having worked for one year while he (Cortez) was receiving his $70,000 from I.E.S. is the height of hypocrisy, a hypocrisy that has characterized all of Ruben's public life," he added.

(Ed.'s Note: Ruben Gallegos Sr. and Ruben Gallegos Jr. are scheduled to go on trial for conspiracy to steal from federal grants and embezzlement this September 3. IES finance director Juan Gonzalez, Sr.'s father-in-law and political uncle to Ruben Gallegos Jr., has pleaded guilty and will turn state's evidence in the government's case against the two men.)



*Source: https://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2022/02/ruben-cortez-pot-calling-kettle-black.html





Tejanos Against Corruption PAC is a political action committee made up of Texans dedicated to promoting transparency, accountability, and honesty in the political system. Through its efforts, Tejanos Against Corruption PAC seeks to empower voters with information to make informed decisions and elect strong leaders.
© 2024 Tejanos Against Corruption PAC. All Rights Reserved.

HOPE THEY FORGOT: THE RUBEN CORTEZ STATE SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDACY VS. CELESTE ZEPEDA-SANCHEZ

By Juan Montoya

Here's a sad litany on former Brownsville Independent School District trustee Ruben Cortez's record in "Keeping Politics out of the Classroom:

Cortez, who has a H.S. diploma (GED?) wants to be one of 15 new members to the Texas School Board of Education and is running against Celeste Zepeda Sanchez, who has a Bachelor's and Master's degree and has been an educator for 45 years. She is also a current member of the San Benito City Commission.
With early voting starting on Monday, please don't forget what Cortez accomplished as a BISD trustee.

From the current lawsuit in state court by former Superintendent Hector Gonzales:

TRYING TO RIG INSURANCE CONTRACTS TOWARD HIS PAL JOHNNY CAVAZOS;

– February 2007: (Ruben) Cortez visited Gonzales and told him he did not want insurance provider Healthsmart as the new insurance carrier for the district. He told Gonzales that he and the other (co-conspirators) wanted Mutual of Omaha, or any other firm in which Johnny Cavazos would be the agent. Gonzales said he would not participate in this conspiracy.

– March 2007: Cortez approached Gonzales again on the same issue and insisted that Gonzales only recommend one of Cavazos' insurance firms for the upcoming insurance contract. Again, Gonzales refused to join the conspiracy.

– Dec. 2007 to February 2008: (Rolando) Aguilar Cortez, and (Joe) Colunga met with Gonzales to discuss their "concerns" regarding the upcoming health insurance contract. They made it clear that they did not want Healthsmart, but one of Cavazos' companies.

– Sept. 16, 2008: CFO Antonio Juarez recommended AAG/Berkley for the Stop-Loss Insurance contract which was not adopted by the board at that meeting. Afterwards, Cortez visited Gonzales in his office and told him he did not like the recommendation and didn't like "being lied to." Gonzales said he would have Tony Resendez, counsel with Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Brown and Schultze to look into the matter. Resendez recommended the matter be handled administratively with a warning to Juarez that perhaps he did "not communicate effectively" to the board.

– Oct. 21: Cortez requested a consent item on the agenda related to "apparent misinformation" directed toward board members on insurance contract. Another "superintendent evaluation" was placed on agenda but no action was taken. Aguilar. Cortez, and Colunga all met with Gonzales separately after the meeting regarding Juarez. Each conveyed to Gonzales that they wanted him to fire Juarez for "lying" to them regarding the Stop-Loss insurance contract they wanted to go to Cavazos. They all wanted Gonzales to fire him and then give a recommendation to Cavazo's company.

When Gonzales didn't fire Juarez, but instead reassigned him to a grant administrator position, Cortez's reaction was immediate.

– Upon discovering the reassignment, trustees Aguilar, and Cortez went to Gonzales' office outraged. They both screamed "Why didn't you fire Tony? Why didn't you just terminate him?"

SUBVERTING THE BISD'S GRIEVANCE PROCESS TO "GET HIS ENEMIES":

– Immediately after the Sept. 23, 2008 board meeting: Gonzales and board members attended CUBE convention in Las Vegas and Cortez approached Gonzales and told him the current board did not extend his contract because they were going to "hold him hostage." He also said his job "was on the line" and that the superintendent needed to "prove that he would do as they directed" and to "start proving himself by firing (former Special Services Director Art) Rendon because that would make Colunga very happy."

Further, Cortez said there was going to "be a change" and that Gonzales needed to "play ball with his side" or be fired. He also said that once Zayas was elected, they would have the majority vote and that they wanted the current insurance policy cancelled and a new insurance policy to be awarded to Cavazos.

Cortez also told Gonzales they wanted Rendon fired and his contract terminated immediately. Further, Cortez warned that Gonzales "needs to listen to him because they will be in control and all he has to do is do what they tell him to do" because "this was the way Brownsville operated."

– In the days and months following this episode: The BISD majority and its co-conspirators tried to procure false grievances against Gonzales in a further attempt to discredit, discriminate against, and terminate him.

– Sept. 18, 2009: Because of his refusal to stop and/or silence efforts to uncover and expose illegal and other improper activity of the conspiracy, Gonzales was terminated. He further charges in his petition that the conspirators – including Cortez – "manipulated and created evidence, coerced and intimidated witnesses, gave false testimony, and falsified records to make it appear that the Special Services Department was in a financial mess and in an organizational shambles. Further, the conspirators controlled, corrupted, and manipulated the entire grievance and appeal procedure such that the outcomes of specific and selected cases at the conspirators' choosing, were pre-determined."

SO THIS IS "KEEPING POLITICS OUT OF THE CLASSROOM"

– Also May 2008: Cortez went to Gonzales and instructed him to promote his wife to principal of Benavides Elementary. Cortez threatened Gonzales that "if he wanted to remain at BISD as superintendent, he should make it happen. Gonzales said he could not oblige such a request. Cortez responded "we will see what happens."

Cortez was also in the majority sued by former Special Needs Department Director Art Rendon, who stated in a sworn deposition in his case (Southern District of Texas 1:10-cv-00198) that:

"58. On or about June, 2008, Ruben Cortez, a sitting board member on BISD, contacted Plaintiff directly via telephone. He instructed Plaintiff to hire his sister, Linda Aguilar, for summer school employment as a Special Education teacher.

59. Plaintiff informed Mr. Cortez that BISD had hiring policies in place and instructed him that the hiring application for the summer of 2008 had already been accepted and processed.

60. Cortez sent Plaintiff his sister's application and insisted Plaintiff call her immediately and giver her a job. Plaintiff set up a meeting between Cortez's sister Linda, Ana Lerma, who was a Special Education supervisor, and Dr. Lee Garcia, Assistant Director for Special Services. At the meeting, Ruben Cortez's orders were followed, and Linda Aguilar was given a job for the summer of 2008.

DOES THE "C" IN CORTEZ STANDS FOR "CHUECO" OR "CONCHUDO?"

By Juan Montoya
For years now, former Brownsville Independent School District trustee Ruben Cortez has been flying under the radar.
Cortez, the son of Justice of the Peace Linda Salazar, husband of a BISD elementary school principal, business partner of local attorney Rick Zayas in a lucrative jail commissary contract, and possessing only a high school equivalency education, wants to be one of 15 members of the Texas School Board of Education.
After the public furor that erupted over the fact that commissary contract that was awarded without bidding and that his cousin was the chief deputy for the sheriff awarding the contract, there was a call for proposals. Cortez and his partner were again awarded the contract that nets them more than $650,000 a year by a committee made up of county employees.
Above all, he is counting on his political contacts to try to beat Celeste Zepeda Sanchez, a San Benito CISD trustee and city commissioner with a Master's degree and more than 35 years in education in the July 31 runoff. His slogan? How about "Keeping Politics out of the Classroom."
 How's that for chutzpah?
So far, he has been able to bamboozle the Texas State Teachers Association, the Association of Brownsville Educators (AOBE) under his crony George Borrego, the Brownsville Unity Council, the Rio Grande Valley Central Labor Council, the mayor of Mercedes, the schools boards of major school boards like those at La Villa, Santa Maria, PSJA, and Monte Alto.
Still, Cortez's charm has been lost on more discerning eyes, like those of the editorial board of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times who gave Celeste Sanchez its endorsement calling her the best qualified for the position. In the May 29 election, he trialed far behind Sanchez in the voting. Now he is scurrying to pull votes from his hat (and those of his paid politiqueras) to try to overcome his deficit.
It's interesting that in none of his qualifications does he list his education. Instead, he fills up the space with the committees and boards to which he got himself appointed while he was with the BISD.  
 We're sure that Cortez didn't tell those attending his weekend pachanaga at the appropriately named "La Cucaracha Bar" that he is currently named in two major lawsuits as a result of his actions while on the BISD board. One other has already been settled in federal court and the district had to renumerate lost income to the plaintiff and award his attorneys their fees.
In the others, he is till pending on civil rights violations like retaliation, rigging insurance bids in favor of his friends, and engaging in conspiracies to subvert the grievance process to fire a superintendent and a chief financial officer who didn't do his bidding.
Read what former Superintendent Hector Gonzales says about Pretty Boy Ruben Cortez in his amended motion before a state district court:

– February 2007: (Ruben) Cortez visited Gonzales and told him he did not want insurance provider Healthsmart as the new insurance carrier for the district. He told Gonzales that he and the other (co-conspirators) wanted Mutual of Omaha, or any other firm in which Johnny Cavazos would be the agent. Gonzales said he would not participate in this conspiracy.

– March 2007: Cortez approached Gonzales again on the same issue and insisted that Gonzales only recommend one of Cavazos' insurance firms for the upcoming insurance contract. Again, Gonzales refused to join the conspiracy.
– Dec. 2007 to February 2008: (Rolando) Aguilar Cortez, and (Joe) Colunga met with Gonzales to discuss their "concerns" regarding the upcoming health insurance contract. They made it clear that they did not want Healthsmart, but one of Cavazos' companies.
– Also May 2008: Cortez went to Gonzales and instructed him to promote his wife to principal of Benavides Elementary. Cortez threatened Gonzales that "if he wanted to remain at BISD as superintendent, he should make it happen. Gonzales said he could not oblige such a request. Cortez responded "we will see what happens."
– Sept. 16, 2008: CFO Antonio Juarez recommended AAG/Berkley for the Stop-Loss Insurance contract which was not adopted by the board at that meeting. Afterwards, Cortez visited Gonzales in his office and told him he did not like the recommendation and didn't like "being lied to." Gonzales said he would have Tony Resendez, counsel with Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Brown and Schultze to look into the matter. Resendez recommended the matter be handled administratively with a warning to Juarez that perhaps he did "not communicate effectively" to the board.
– Immediately after the Sept. 23, 2008 board meeting: Gonzales and board members attended CUBE convention in Las Vegas and Cortez approached Gonzales and told him the current board did not extend his contract because they were going to "hold him hostage." He also said his job "was on the line" and that the superintendent needed to "prove that he would do as they directed" and to "start proving himself by firing Rendon because that would make Colunga very happy."
Further, Cortez said there was going to "be a change" and that Gonzales needed to "play ball with his side" or be fired. He also said that once Zayas was elected, they would have the majority vote and that they wanted the current insurance policy cancelled and a new insurance policy to be awarded to Cavazos.
Cortez also told Gonzales they wanted Rendon fired and his contract terminated immediately. Further, Cortez warned that Gonzales "needs to listen to him because they will be in control and all he has to do is do what they tell him to do" because "this was the way Brownsville operated."
– Oct. 21: Cortez requested a consent item on the agenda related to "apparent misinformation" directed toward board members on insurance contract. Another "superintendent evaluation" was placed on agenda but no action was taken. Aguilar. Cortez, and Colunga all met with Gonzales separately after the meeting regarding Juarez. Each conveyed to Gonzales that they wanted him to fire Juarez for "lying" to them regarding the Stop-Loss insurance contract they wanted to go to Cavazos. They all wanted Gonzales to fire him and then give a recommendation to Cavazos' company.
When Gonzales didn't fire Juarez, but instead reassigned him to a grant administrator position, Cortez's reaction was immediate.
– Upon discovering the reassignment, trustees Aguilar, and Cortez went to Gonzales' office outraged. They both screamed "Why didn't you fire Tony? Why didn't you just terminate him?"
– In the days and months following this episode: The BISD majority and its co-conspirators tried to procure false grievances against Gonzales in a further attempt to discredit, discriminate against, and terminate him.
– Sept. 18, 2009: Because of his refusal to stop and/or silence efforts to uncover and expose illegal and other improper activity of the conspiracy, Gonzales was terminated. He further charges in his petition that the conspirators – including Cortez – "manipulated and created evidence, coerced and intimidated witnesses, gave false testimony, and falsified records to make it appear that the Special Services Department was in a financial mess and in an organizational shambles. Further, the conspirators controlled, corrupted, and manipulated the entire grievance and appeal procedure such that the outcomes of specific and selected cases at the conspirators' choosing, were pre-determined."
This is not all. Cortez was also in the majority sued by former Special Needs Department Director Art Rendon, who stated in a sworn deposition in his case (Southern District of Texas 1:10-cv-00198) that:

"58. On or about June, 2008, Ruben Cortez, a sitting board member on BISD, contacted Plaintiff directly via telephone. He instructed Plaintiff to hire his sister, Linda Aguilar, for summer school employment as a Special Education teacher.

59. Plaintiff informed Mr. Cortez that BISD had hiring policies in place and instructed him that the hiring application for the summer of 2008 had already been accepted and processed.

60. Cortez sent Plaintiff his sister's application and insisted Plaintiff call her immediately and giver her a job. Plaintiff set up a meeting between Cortez's sister Linda, Ana Lerma, who was a Special Education supervisor, and Dr. Lee Garcia, Assistant Director for Special Services. At the meeting, Ruben Cortez's orders were followed, and Linda Aguilar was given a job for the summer of 2008.

And this is the guy who is running under the slogan of "Keeping Politics out of the Classroom?"

CORTEZ MOVES TO A BIGGER FEEDING TROUGH AT TSBOE

By Juan Montoya
Using politiquera-inflated votes results from Hidalgo County, former Brownsville Independent School District trustee Ruben Cortez has moved closer to his dream of someday being in the statehouse by getting elected to the Texas State Board of Education.
Cortez, with his impressive educational background consisting of a GED, beat out assistant San Benito ISD assistant superintendent Celeste Sanchez with  a Master's degree and more than 45 years experience in education and ranging from the classroom to the board room, but also Republican Laurie J. Turner, a teacher at Gregory-Portland Junior High School
Cortez Jr., who describes himself as a Brownsville businessman, won the State Board of Education, District 2 seat in the Nov. 6 election.
The State Board of Education sets policies and curriculum standards for educational programs in the public school system and approves the creation of new charter schools.
If our experience with Cortez's performance as a BISD trustee is any indication of what's coming, we should see the path to his door widen to a four-lane highway with textbook vendors and lobbyists. During the 2010 campaign for BISD trustee, the DefeatZayasCortezPowers PAC revealed how Ruben actively solicited contributions from vendors. And more than one person has told of Cortez cornering vendors with contract proposals to the BISD and demanding his cut before they could get his support during a golf-tournament political fundraiser.
He told Gary Long, his megaphone at the Brownsville Herald, that he would be setting up town-hall meetings in Brownsville and throughout District 2 with members of the education community and with with leaders of the Texas State Teachers Association, American Federation of Teachers, the Association of Texas Professional Educators and others concerning the most pressing needs in public education. He also told the Herald that he would meet with superintendents and school board members throughout the 17-county district to give their concerns a voice on the board.
Really? What on earth could he tell these educational professionals about curriculum and textbook content? How to quit school and use politics to get ahead?
He does it, he said, to“to put children before politics” and has had conversations “with superintendents up and down the Valley” about their concerns.
This is the same Cortez putting children before politics that was outed in the lawsuit filed by former BISD superintendent Hector Gonzales in his lawsuit, since settled.
–  May 2008: Cortez went to (former BISD Superintendent Gonzales and instructed him to promote his wife to principal of Benavides Elementary. Cortez threatened Gonzales that "if he wanted to remain at BISD as superintendent, he should make it happen. Gonzales said he could not oblige such a request. Cortez responded "we will see what happens."

Cortez was also in the majority sued by former Special Needs Department Director Art Rendon, who stated in a sworn deposition in his case (Southern District of Texas 1:10-cv-00198) that:

"58. On or about June, 2008, Ruben Cortez, a sitting board member on BISD, contacted Plaintiff directly via telephone. He instructed Plaintiff to hire his sister, Linda Aguilar, for summer school employment as a Special Education teacher.

59. Plaintiff informed Mr. Cortez that BISD had hiring policies in place and instructed him that the hiring application for the summer of 2008 had already been accepted and processed.

60. Cortez sent Plaintiff his sister's application and insisted Plaintiff call her immediately and giver her a job. Plaintiff set up a meeting between Cortez's sister Linda, Ana Lerma, who was a Special Education supervisor, and Dr. Lee Garcia, Assistant Director for Special Services. At the meeting, Ruben Cortez's orders were followed, and Linda Aguilar was given a job for the summer of 2008.
He, of course, has his eyes on greener pastures other can had from than putting politics before the children of the BISD.
Part of the board’s responsibility is to approve textbooks for schools statewide, he told Long. Because Texas is so large, textbooks approved here often end up in about half the schools in the nation, he said.
"The money to buy textbooks for Texas schools comes from the Permanent School Fund and amounts to approximately $2 billion a year, Cortez said. With average high school texts costing about $120 each, and seven required of each student, the textbook lobby becomes an influential force.
Meanwhile, digital textbooks cost about $15 each but require iPads or other types of tablet computers. Cortez said he’s not advocating Apple’s product over other vendors, but the economic and learning advantages of digital technology are obvious.
“As you think about the poverty we have and these kids who never get to go anywhere or see anything, imagine that instead of just seeing the Pacific Ocean on a map on the wall, they get to take a virtual tour of the Pacific Coast Highway on their tablet computer,” Cortez said.
He commended the McAllen school district for using local money to purchase iPads for the district. He said McAllen is pioneering technology that can save Texas money and at the same time “engage students at a higher level.”
Oh, yeah, our little Ruben can just see there's mucho money to be made in them thar Hill Country state board rooms, alright!

CORTEZ: DIABLO POR CONCOCIDO? O SANTO POR CONOCER?

 By Juan Montoya

We see where former Brownsville Independent School District trustee Ruben Cortez – after Hidalgo County Democratic voters propelled him to a spot on the Texas School Board of Education – is now angling to get elected to the GOP-gerrymandered District 37 seat of the Texas House of Representatives.

He faces developer Luis Villarreal Jr. and Harlingen City Commissioner Frank Puente in the March 2022 Democratic Party primary. The winner will face a Republican in the November general election.

We have been following the political career of this self-serving "public servant" for years. Just a sample of his blatant dastardly deeds from the past should discourage anyone from swallowing his claims of even-handed treatment or believing he has the best interest of the constituency in mind. 

Former BISD Superintendent Hector Gonzales, CFO Antonio Juarez, and Special Needs Director Art Rendon outlined his behind-the-scenes manipulations to benefit himself, his political supporters and his family in lawsuits in which they prevailed.

(At right, JP 2-1 Linda Salazar – his mother – swears him in as BISD trustee as former Super Carl Montoya looks on. The fruit doesn't fall far from the tree. Salazar has compiled a long record of bending the rules for her brood such as sitting in on her other son's lawsuits and hiring her sister until she got caught had to transfer his cases before another judge and placed her sister in another court.) 

TRYING TO RIG INSURANCE CONTRACTS TOWARD HIS LATE PAL JOHNNY CAVAZOS;

– February 2007: (Ruben) Cortez visited Gonzales and told him he did not want insurance provider Healthsmart as the new insurance carrier for the district. He told Gonzales that he and the other (co-conspirators) wanted Mutual of Omaha, or any other firm in which Johnny Cavazos would be the agent. Gonzales said he would not participate in this conspiracy.

– March 2007: Cortez approached Gonzales again on the same issue and insisted that Gonzales only recommend one of Cavazos' insurance firms for the upcoming insurance contract. Again, Gonzales refused to join the conspiracy.

– Dec. 2007 to February 2008: (Rolando) Aguilar Cortez, and (Joe) Colunga met with Gonzales to discuss their "concerns" regarding the upcoming health insurance contract. They made it clear that they did not want Healthsmart, but one of Cavazos' companies.

– Sept. 16, 2008: CFO Antonio Juarez recommended AAG/Berkley for the Stop-Loss Insurance contract which was not adopted by the board at that meeting. Afterwards, Cortez visited Gonzales in his office and told him he did not like the recommendation and didn't like "being lied to." 

Gonzales said he would have Tony Resendez, counsel with Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Brown and Schultze to look into the matter. Resendez recommended the matter be handled administratively with a warning to Juarez that perhaps he did "not communicate effectively" to the board.

– Oct. 21: Cortez requested a consent item on the agenda related to "apparent misinformation" directed toward board members on insurance contract. Another "superintendent evaluation" was placed on agenda but no action was taken. Aguilar. Cortez, and Colunga all met with Gonzales separately after the meeting regarding Juarez. Each conveyed to Gonzales that they wanted him to fire Juarez for "lying" to them regarding the Stop-Loss insurance contract they wanted to go to Cavazos. They all wanted Gonzales to fire him and then give a recommendation to Cavazo's company.

When Gonzales didn't fire Juarez, but instead reassigned him to a grant administrator position, Cortez's reaction was immediate.

– Upon discovering the reassignment, trustees Aguilar, and Cortez went to Gonzales' office outraged. They both screamed "Why didn't you fire Tony? Why didn't you just terminate him?"

SUBVERTING THE BISD'S GRIEVANCE PROCESS TO "GET HIS ENEMIES":

– Immediately after the Sept. 23, 2008 board meeting Gonzales and board members attended CUBE convention in Las Vegas and Cortez approached Gonzales and told him the current board did not extend his contract because they were going to "hold him hostage."

 He also said his job "was on the line" and that the superintendent needed to "prove that he would do as they directed" and to "start proving himself by firing (former Special Services Director Art) Rendon because that would make Colunga very happy."

Further, Cortez said there was going to "be a change" and that Gonzales needed to "play ball with his side" or be fired. He also said that once his business partner attorney Rick Zayas was elected, they would have the majority vote and that they wanted the current insurance policy cancelled and a new insurance policy to be awarded to Cavazos.

Cortez also told Gonzales they wanted Rendon fired and his contract terminated immediately. Further, Cortez warned that Gonzales "needs to listen to him because they will be in control and all he has to do is do what they tell him to do" because "this was the way Brownsville operated."

– In the days and months following this episode: The BISD majority and its co-conspirators tried to procure false grievances against Gonzales in a further attempt to discredit, discriminate against, and terminate him.

– Sept. 18, 2009: Because of his refusal to stop and/or silence efforts to uncover and expose illegal and other improper activity of the conspiracy, Gonzales was terminated. He further charged in his court petition that the conspirators – including Cortez – "manipulated and created evidence, coerced and intimidated witnesses, gave false testimony, and falsified records to make it appear that the Special Services Department was in a financial mess and in an organizational shambles.

Further, the conspirators controlled, corrupted, and manipulated the entire grievance and appeal procedure such that the outcomes of specific and selected cases at the conspirators' choosing, were pre-determined."

SO THIS IS "KEEPING POLITICS OUT OF THE CLASSROOM"

– Also May 2008: Cortez went to Gonzales and instructed him to promote his wife to principal of Benavides Elementary (and later Sharp Elmentary). Cortez threatened Gonzales that "if he wanted to remain at BISD as superintendent, he should make it happen. Gonzales said he could not oblige such a request. Cortez responded "we will see what happens."

Cortez was also in the majority sued by former Special Needs Department Director Art Rendon in federal court who stated in a sworn deposition in his case (Southern District of Texas 1:10-cv-00198) that:

"58. On or about June, 2008, Ruben Cortez, a sitting board member on BISD, contacted Plaintiff directly via telephone. He instructed Plaintiff to hire his sister, Linda Aguilar, for summer school employment as a Special Education teacher.

59. Plaintiff informed Mr. Cortez that BISD had hiring policies in place and instructed him that the hiring application for the summer of 2008 had already been accepted and processed.

60. Cortez sent Plaintiff his sister's application and insisted Plaintiff call her immediately and giver her a job. Plaintiff set up a meeting between Cortez's sister Linda Ana Lerma, who was a Special Education supervisor, and Dr. Lee Garcia, Assistant Director for Special Services. At the meeting, Ruben Cortez's orders were followed, and Linda Aguilar was given a job for the summer of 2008.

Rendon also prevailed in his lawsuit against the BISD. As a result, the BISD taxpayers and insurance footed the bill for his excesses.

(Upcoming: Gouging a captive audience, Cortez – through family connections – gets lucrative jail commissary contract.)

IF ANYTHING, CORTEZ SHOWS HE'S THE ULTIMATE POLITICIAN

By Juan Montoya

Even as he defends himself and members of the former Brownsville Independent School District board majority for violating civil rights of former employees and conspiring to rig an insurance contract and steer it to his political supporters, former trustee Ruben Cortez continues to bamboozle voters in the northern reaches of the Texas State Board of Education's District 2.

Cortez, who was roundly rejected by BISD voters tired that he and the majority of which he formed part, pulled down the district from an all-time pinnacle of having been awarded the prestigious Broad Award and in two short years gobbled up a $175 million reserve fund to just under $68 million.

The district, which gained a $2 million student scholarship award as a result of the Broad, went literally as his detractors said, from "Broad to Broke."

And the firing of three major administrators – superintendent Hector Gonzales, Chief Financial Officer Tony Juarez, and Special Needs Director Art Rendon – sparked lawsuits in

state and federal court. A federal judge denied the four defendants – Cortez, Rick Zayas, Joe Colunga and Rolando Aguilar – qualified immunity meaning that they would have to answer the charges as elected officials and as individuals.

A federal appeals court upheld the local decision and later refused to reconsider.

Yet, still after all that, Cortez has somehow managed to convince the leadership of the Texas State Teachers Association, part of the National Education Association, and the Victoria, Texas, branch of the Service Employee International Union to endorse his candidacy over his two opponents, both highly-qualified and educated. One Larry Garza, is a Kingsville pharmacist with over a decade on the local school board, and the other Celste Sanchez, is an assistant superintendent of curriculum at the San Benito ISD where she was also a board member and a sitting city commissioner.

Cortez has only a high school diploma as his educational credentials.

"You have to give Cortez credits for his chutzpah," said a voter waiting outside the Central Blvd. Public Library in Brownsville during early voting. "But thinking it over carefully, the voters would be doing our schools and our children a disservice to reject these other highly qualified people and vote for a career politician."

Yet, that is the very choice that George Borrego, president elect of the Association of Brownsville Educators, is advocating.

"Ruben has supported educational issues and employees important to education," Borrego said."We feel we need someone with his view to represent us at the State Board of Education. We are out-numbered. We feel very secure that Ruben's going to win and represent us well."

To think that this professional union rep would pick Cortez, whose slogan "Keeping Politics out of the Classroom," goes contrary to what he did while on the BISD board defies belief.

Cortez was sued by former Special Needs Department Director Art Rendon, who stated in a sworn deposition in his case (Southern District of Texas 1:10-cv-00198) against Cortez and the board majority that:

"58. On or about June, 2008, Ruben Cortez, a sitting board member on BISD, contacted Plaintiff directly via telephone. He instructed Plaintiff to hire his sister, Linda Aguilar, for summer school employment as a Special Education teacher.

59. Plaintiff informed Mr. Cortez that BISD had hiring policies in place and instructed him that the hiring application for the summer of 2008 had already been accepted and processed.

60. Cortez sent Plaintiff his sister's application and insisted Plaintiff call her immediately and giver her a job. Plaintiff set up a meeting between Cortez's sister Linda, Ana Lerma, who was a Special Education supervisor, and Dr. Lee Garcia, Assistant Director for Special Services. At the meeting, Ruben Cortez's orders were followed, and Linda Aguilar was given a job for the summer of 2008.

And this is the kind of person the teachers union – whose members were probably elbowed out by Cortez's interference in the hiring process so the district could hire his ssiter – wants to represent us in Austin?

IF CORTEZ SUCCEEDS, A H.S. GRAD WILL RUN HERD ON PHDS

By Juan Montoya

Like a phoenix who has gone down in flames and rises to fly again, political observers are shaking their heads in disbelief at the resurrection of former Brownsville Independent School District board trustee Ruben Cortez who was defeated two years ago but is now running for the Texas School Board of Education on the ballot this May 29.

Cortez, who was beaten by current trustee Enrique Escobedo, then ran for the board of Region One, which oversees the boards and districts in South Texas and ...won.

Then, less than two years after he rose from defeat on the Brownsville board, he shook off the dust of defeat and is now running for the state board of education.

The wonder of it all, say some, is that just as he did when he was in Brownsville and Region One, if elected, he will be over people with college degrees such as those with bachelor's, Master's, and even PhDs.

"Can you imagine having someone like Cortez making decisions over people with doctorates?," asked a former Brownsville trustee. "This is ludicrous."

During the 2010 campaign for BISD trustee, his opponent Escobedo focused o

n Cortez's jetting around the country as a district representative and spent some $35,874 in only two years taking 27 trips, including one to Las Vegas at district expense.

He also paid for an ad where he stated that back in 1994, Cortez had been arrested for DWI after he refused to blow into a breathalyzer.

But the kicker is that Cortez, who sat on a board that would make decisions and evaluate the performance of people with educational attainment higher than he had ever reached, only listed a high school diploma as stated in a story in the Brownsville Herald.

Additionally, the ad stated that Cortez had been "personally sued" for defamation, retaliation, conspiring to silence, plotting to intimidate and more. In all, the ad continued, the BISD "has spent at least $228,447 in legal fees prosecuting and defending these cases."

That was even before the latest round of lawsuits where Cortez, Rick Zayas, Joe Colunga and Rolando Aguilar – the

reigning majority at the time – were named as defendants by the former director of the Special Needs department, the former Chief Financial Officer, and former superintendent.

In the case involving former CFO Antonio Juarez, a federal judge refused to give him and the other three co-defendants qualified immunity, meaning that they can be charged as individuals as well as in their official capacity. The lawsuit alleges the defendants conspired to deprive Juarez of his constitutional right to protected speech.

In the case involving the former superintendent Hector Gonzales, a state case also charges that Cortez was pressuring the former superintendent to fire Juarez after the former CFO did not recommend that an insurance broker be awarded the district's lucrative Stop-Loss contract.

In the case of former Special Needs director Art Rendon, the district's new board majority voted to settle the litigation rather than air the allegations in open court. In the Rendon case, he specifically states that Cortez interfered in the department's hiring process to have one of his relatives hired after the application period had expired.

"58. On or about June, 2008, Ruben Cortez, a sitting board member on BISD, contacted Plaintiff directly via telephone. He instructed Plaintiff to hire his sister, Linda Aguilar, for summer school employment as a Special Education teacher.

59. Plaintiff informed Mr. Cortez that BISD had hiring policies in place and instructed him that the hiring application for the summer of 2008 had already been accepted and processed.

60. Cortez sent Plaintiff his sister's application and insisted Plaintiff call her immediately and giver her a job. Plaintiff set up a meeting between Cortez's sister Linda, Ana Lerma, who was a Special Education supervisor, and Dr. Lee Garcia, Assistant Director for Special Services. At the meeting, Ruben Cortez's orders were followed, and Linda Aguilar was given a job for the summer of 2008.

RUBEN CORTEZ: POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK; REMEMBER I.E.S.? OR THAT HE TRIED TO CASH IN ON A CHARTER SCHOOL?

“As a father of four, I believe no one should ever profit from the misery of children. I’ve dedicated my life in public service to protecting our students, especially the most vulnerable — including immigrant children and those with special needs. Our community knows who has been there for our families and who shares our values.” Ruben Cortez, a member of the Texas State Board of Education who is also running for Texas House District 37

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

With early voting ending today and election day in the Democratic primary next Tuesday, March 1, Ruben Cortez, who is running against Luis Villarreal for Texas House District 37, is pulling out all the stops to smear his opponent.

Obviously, Cortez's mama (JP 2-1 Linda Salazar) never taught him that people in glass houses should not throw stones.

Cortez thinks that his ace-in-the -hole is the disclosure he has been peddling across the district that Villarreal was once chief operating officer at SOG International for one year – between 2019 and 2020 – that partnered with Sunny Glen, a shelter for migrant children with a troubled history in Texas before he was onboard.

What he is leaving unsaid is that he was hired as a grant writer by Ruben Gallegos Sr. and Ruben Gallegos Jr. for International Educational Services (IES), a shelter for migrant minors  that was shut down by the federal government after it was revealed - among other things - that the Gallegos had been paying themselves between $600,000 to and $700,000 in violation of federal guidelines.

And he won't say that he was getting around 70,000 as a "grant writer," although there is no mention of what grants he wrote or whether they were successful. 

Not profiting from the misery of children? Did he refuse the cash or return it once he found out? Hardly.

Ironically, among those on the board working with Cortez was none other than Eduardo Andres Lucio (Rep. Eddie Lucio III) listed as receiving $125,000 a year as I.E.S. legal counsel.

Cortez even got the AFT teacher's union to issue a scathing assessment of the charter schools and migrant centers in Texas and they issued a statement saying: 

“Anyone associated...with the troubling work of building and running a child prison camp should be disqualified from running for office..."

And what was IES for whom Cortez worked and received his inflated salary if not that? 

And if the AFT had done their due diligence they would discover that Cortez was actively pursuing the establishment of a charter school in Brownsville which would have been in competition for state funding with public schools.

People from Brownsville remember when Cortez was trying to raise seed money to establish one here, going as far as to contact Ray Montanero – among others – to invest in the scheme that would leave a nice pile of cash from public-school funding in his bulging pockets.

"Everyone remembers thinking, why is Cortez pushing for a charter school when he's a member of the Texas State Board of Education and trying to fund a charter school in competition with the public schools when he was a BISD  school board member where his wife is a principal commanding a  $100,000 salary from the public schools,?" recalled a  former county administrator.

"Criticizing his opponent Luis Villarreal for having worked for one year while he was receiving his $70,000 from I.E.S. is the height of hypocrisy, a hypocrisy that has characterized all of Ruben's public life," he added. 

ANOTHER REASON WE CAN'T SUPPORT CORTEZ FOR SBOE

(Ruben Cortez, a former trustee of the Brownsville Independent School District, is running against City of Brownsville IT Specialist Tad Hasse in the November general election for District 2 of the Texas State Board of Education. Cortez is the son of JP 2-1 Justice of the Peace Linda Salazar. In this snippet from the lawsuit filed against BISD by former Special Needs Department Director Art Rendon, he recounts how Cortez used his position to force the district to hire his sister.) 

58. On or about June, 2008, Ruben Cortez, a sitting School Board member of BISD, contacted Plaintiff (Art Rendon) directly via telephone. He instructed Plaintiff to hire his sister, Linda Aguilar, for summer school employment as a Special Education teacher.

59. Plaintiff informed Mr. Cortez that BISD had hiring policies in place and instructed him that the hiring applications for the summer of 2008 had already been accepted and processed.

60. Cortez sent Plaintiff his sister’s application and insisted Plaintiff call her in immediately and give her a job. Plaintiff set up a meeting between Cortez’ sister, Linda, Ana Lerma, who was a Special Education supervisor, and Dr. Lee Garcia, Assistant Director for Special Services.

At this meeting, Ruben Cortez’ orders were followed, and Linda Aguilar was given a job for the summer of 2008.

http://files.courthousenews.com/2010/08/25/Brownsville.pdf

LONG SPINS HIS TALE OF WOE, GIVES CORTEZ A SOAPBOX

By Juan Montoya
Reading the Brownsville Herald's Gary "Too" Long's report on the potential settlement of lawsuits filed by former superintendent Hector Gonzales and former chief financial officer Antonio Juarez against the Brownsville Independent School District, we were struck with how myopic he has become when things didn't go his way.

We remember that he used to mock and point four fingers at trustee Presas-Garcia when she was in the minority and he was content to suck up to the the majority formed by Rick Zayas, Ruben Cortez, Rolando Aguilar and Joe Colunga. Apparently, not being able to resign himself to the fact that that foursome and their hand-picked superintendent Brett Springsteen basically gutted the district financially and left a structural mess for the next group to handle after voters rejected them, he still is.

In outlining the lawsuits filed by the two men, he basically deems them worthless and interviews Cortez, the GED-challenged trustee who was known as the vendors' scourge when he was on the board. Now, after finagling his way to the Region One board, this tenacious unqualified underachiever is running in November for a place on the Texas School Board of Education.

In the lawsuits that may be settled today, he has been listed as one of the main perpetrators of the violations that spurred the lawsuit along with Colunga and the others in the former majority.

This is what one of the lawsuits (Gonzales') outline of Cortez's actions.

– February 2007: (Ruben) Cortez visited Gonzales and told him he did not want insurance provider Healthsmart as the new insurance carrier for the district. He told Gonzales that he and the other (co-conspirators) wanted Mutual of Omaha, or any other firm in which (the late) Johnny Cavazos would be the agent. Gonzales said he would not participate in this conspiracy.

– March 2007: Cortez approached Gonzales again on the same issue and insisted that Gonzales only recommend one of Cavazos' insurance firms for the upcoming insurance contract. Again, Gonzales refused to join the conspiracy.

– Dec. 2007 to February 2008: (Rolando) Aguilar Cortez, and (Joe) Colunga met with Gonzales to discuss their "concerns" regarding the upcoming health insurance contract. They made it clear that they did not want Healthsmart, but one of Cavazos' companies.

– Sept. 16, 2008: CFO Antonio Juarez recommended AAG/Berkley for the Stop-Loss Insurance contract which was not adopted by the board at that meeting. Afterwards, Cortez visited Gonzales in his office and told him he did not like the recommendation and didn't like "being lied to." Gonzales said he would have Tony Resendez, counsel with Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Brown and Schultze to look into the matter. Resendez recommended the matter be handled administratively with a warning to Juarez that perhaps he did "not communicate effectively" to the board.

– Oct. 21: Cortez requested a consent item on the agenda related to "apparent misinformation" directed toward board members on insurance contract. Another "superintendent evaluation" was placed on agenda but no action was taken. Aguilar. Cortez, and Colunga all met with Gonzales separately after the meeting regarding Juarez. Each conveyed to Gonzales that they wanted him to fire Juarez for "lying" to them regarding the Stop-Loss insurance contract they wanted to go to Cavazos. They all wanted Gonzales to fire him and then give a recommendation to Cavazos' company.

When Gonzales didn't fire Juarez, but instead reassigned him to a grant administrator position, Cortez's reaction was immediate.

– Upon discovering the reassignment, trustees Aguilar and Cortez went to Gonzales' office outraged. They both screamed "Why didn't you fire Tony? Why didn't you just terminate him?"

When Gonzales was fired and sought relief from the grievance process, the lawsuits claims that Cortez and his pals subverted the process so that it became meaningless.

The majority claimed that Texas Education Agency hearing examiner Victoria Guerra upheld their decision against Gonzales. Yet, the courts have found different and allowed Gonzales and his attorneys to develop their conspiracy claims against the majority. In other words, in contrast to what Long writes, the BISD sees the writing on the wall and is cutting its losses.

“I’m being told that it’s a business decision by the insurance company to settle rather than to continue paying law firms” to defend against the lawsuits, Cortez piously told Long. 

Sure Ruben, as long as it's public money being spent defending you, you're alright with that.
The case involving Juarez concerns a lawsuit he filed in January 2009 where he submitted evidence in federal court that board members conspired to force his participation in manipulating BISD’s multi-million stop-loss insurance contract. Instead he went to the FBI. That trial is pending to determine whether the non-renewal of Juarez’s employment contract was retaliation for going to the FBI.

His attorneys say they are prepared to go to trial if the settlement is not approved. In that case, the federal judge refused – and a federal appeals court upheld his decision – to deny Cortez and his pals qualified immunity, meaning they will have to pay any damages to Juarez out of their own pockets if they are not let off the hook. Depending on what decision is reached tonight, Cortez, Zayas, Clounga and Aguilar might have to start saving their pennies.

Do Cortez and Long know something the lawyers and state and federal judges don't? Or are they still nursing their wounded pride because neither the local voters nor the courts have seen things through their myopic viewpoints?