LA JOYA ISD. Definite Jewel of Shame

The courts ruled that election misconduct had indeed occured in the May 2007 LJISD School Board election that pitted incumbent Elma Garza and former LJISD board member Domingo Villareal, Jr. against incumbent, Arturo Gonzalez and new-comer Espy Ochoa. Irregularities, intimidation tactics and a great deal of incompetence was prevalent in the May election, so much so that a district judge and the Texas 13th District Court of Appeals deemed the election null and void and called for Hidalgo County to conduct another election.

A series of negative, front page headlines since 2006; blatant nepotism, an overpaid lawyer (360K per year, the highest in the valley) that may have been hired to funnel his school salary to campaign funds, along with a necessary do-over election due to the lack of "freedom and fairness" did not deter 2.500 residents from electing Arturo Gonzalez, Jr. and Espy Ochoa to the La Joya ISD Board of Directors. Ochoa and Gonzalez won their election fairly- the second time around.

But what do the numbers really tell us? A few weeks ago a Gonzalez-Ochoa supporter stated "We're going to triple those votes to prove that we need justice for everything in our school system,"

Triple, eh?

Recently, a woman by the name of Sandra Rodriguez gave the "GO-USA" ringleader Kino Flores, a long-time State Rep. with a strong financial war chest, what could be considered the fight of his life. Were it not for the financial support of buddy CradDick and other republican lobbyist buds, Flores may not have been able to hold his seat another term.

• In 2006 when Rita "big mouth" Uresti, Fito "I hate liars"Salinas, and Johnn Alaniz first took office they did so with more than 1,000 voes.
• May 2007, Espy and Arturo G may or may not have won by less than 400 votes;
• March 25, 2008, the "GO-USA" team led with way less than 150 votes.

A free and fair race it was and a very close election it was... "Triple the votes" it was NOT.  Was it good enough for the children and tax-payers of La Joya ISD? Last night, 2,500 people believed so. One can only hope that Ms. Ochoa will open her mind and think unlike her fellow counterparts, including Arturo Gonzalez, who ironically, voted to TAKE AWAY THE BUSES a few years ago.
What brought this 2 questionable candidates to victory last night? Was it voter's self-gratification? fear? retaliation?  Blind faith?

Oh wait, I know...... it was definitely the irresistible, classy charm displayed by Rita Uresti and Fito Salinas.

STAY CLASSY LA JOYA ISD.

Vroom, Vroom...Stop! La Joya ISD Brouhaha

As mentioned below, on Thursday, February 7, 2008,  the Texas Court of Appeals  upheld Judge Fred Hinojosa's decision to overturn the La Joya ISD School Board Election where Arturo Gonzalez and Esperanza Ochoa were declared winners over LJISD incumbent Elma Garza and Domingo Villareal, Jr.

Contestees' first issue is overruled. Because we have found that the trial court was presented with clear and convincing evidence that illegal votes were counted and that election judges made mistakes which materially affected and obscured the true outcome of the election, we need not address Contestees' second and third issues, for the resolution of those issues would not further affect the outcome of this appeal. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed. The trial court is instructed to immediately prescribe a new election date in accordance with the election code.

Tex.App.-Corpus Christi,2008.
Gonzalez v. Villarreal

Whether or not the GO team can further appeal their case remains unclear. However, according to Sara Perkins of The Monitor Adam Poncio, the attorney for Gonzalez and Ochoa "vowed to file an appeal, saying it was possible for the Texas Supreme Court to hear the case. "

No one from the GO camp cared to comment. 

Elma Garza on the other hand had some words to add.

“Two courts have found these people guilty of corruption,” she said. “I think it’s time to return justice to the people of La Joya.”

“Something is seriously wrong there,” she said.
So another election is to be held? When? Where? Stay tuned......

The Wrath of the West

A few weeks ago the Texas Observer ran an interesting story on the ever- graceful State Rep Kino Flores (CradDick D-36).

As most know, for the first time since he took office in 1996, Flores is facing a strong opponent in Sandra Rodriguez, a former board member of the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District and former juvenile probation officer who is being backed by Annie's List, a statewide political network that recruits, trains and financially supports Democratic women candidates so that they are credible contenders.
The article seemed to shine a different light on Kino Flores and his politics. Below are a few excerpts from the January 25 article.

Easing back in a chair in his Mission office, Flores didn’t deny he’s a browbeater, but he said he doesn’t use that tactic on people in the district. “There are some people I can bully, and I can beat the dog shit out of, and I can run off—like the lottery directors. I’ve gone through two lottery directors that I had squeezed their nuts and fired them, but not the guy on First and Matamoros.

“Cojones,” he said, is his political style in Austin. “I use them. I am not afraid to use them.”

Ok, in Austin you gotta play tough to get things done, hey if its brings in the funds and attention needed in the valley, then so be it. Right?

He is running on his record, he said, but has “everything and anything” he needs to go after Rodriguez’s husband, a former three-term state district judge who did not seek re-election. “I haven’t accused him of anything,” Flores said, “but I have a boxful, ready to go.”

"She’s got kids. She’s got these kids that are at home, that have no blame whatsoever. They don’t need to be worrying about what their mother is going to go through, or their father. You know, if she wants to go there, that’s her bag.”

Nice Mr. Representative Flores, who are you running against? Oh, silly me, I don't understand politics, Cojones, Cojones. Can't reach your target so you hit 'em where it hurts- la familia. Not a bad tactic now is it Mr. Representative? Should Rodriguez dig up some dirt on your father (mayor of Sullivan City) and father in-law (mayor of Palmview)? Don't see how classy or effective that would be, actually, it would probably pretty damn shitty, but fair. Si?..
Wait, there's more.

Rodriguez said Flores promoted a slate of candidates in the May 2007 La Joya Independent School Board elections that a state district judge ended up voiding because of irregularities. “(Flores) spent many, many days and weeks getting himself involved in a school board election instead of being out there working for the people,” Rodriguez said. Rather than focusing on his responsibilities as a legislator, she said, “he was taking care of his own needs out here.” Flores said the criticism is just politics. He shrugged off the voided election as “a judge in the pocket, that’s all it is.”

Wow! A judge in the pocket? Mr. Representative Flores , you sure does have you some loud cojones.

That must be a mighty deep and powerful pocket to stretch beyond Judge Hinojosa and onto three other judges outside of the valley. Yesterday The Monitor's Sara Perkins reported that “the Texas appeals court upheld the overturn of La Joya ISD's school board election.”

4 judges, sir, not just 1, 4. Perhaps Mr. Representative Flores, you should demand that $5,000 taken from your campaign to pay Gonzalez-Ochoa attorney Adam Poncio for this lovely battle be returned to your campaign fund. Texas Ethics Commision, Schedule F, Pg.102.