Thanks Mom

Edinburg's Incumbents Win City Elections

The old Citrus Theatre marque in the City of Edinburg expressed the hopes of at least one citizen in the ritual battle for city government. Sitting incumbents Alma Garza and Gene Espinoza faced opposition in today's election. At stake was majority control of the city's municipal government.

Tonight citizens across the Valley participated in municipal, school board and bond elections. The results of those elections are here.

Edinburg returns had Alma Garza prevailing with 2,314 votes. Challenger Johnny Rodriguez had 1,382 votes.

The other contested city commission position had sitting city commissioner Gene Espinoza prevailing with 1,897 votes to challenger Leonel Guerrero's 1,759 votes.

The Monitor newspaper noted that, challengers - Leonel Guerrero and Johnny Rodriguez - had been backed by one faction in the community.

A Visit With Retired Teachers

This morning I was invited to address a conference of retired teachers from the border region. This was the first of a series of requested addresses I can expect as we ramp up to the 81st Legislative Session. With Texas projected to have a budgetary surplus retired teachers are hoping for a cost of living increase and an increase in retirement benefits.

Increasingly Apparent?

After last night's results in Indiana and North Carolina many national pundits are noting that the victor in the race for the Democratic nominee for president is "increasingly apparent".

Former Sen. George McGovern, a Clinton supporter, has according to the AP asked Sen. Clinton to drop out of the race.

As we finalize the selection of the eventual nominee it will be important to close ranks and come together after an often bitter and divisive battle for the nomination.

Leading Texas Democrats are calling for unity behind the nominee.

A Cinco De Mayo Focus On Hispanic Politics

It is the Cinco De Mayo or the fifth of May. For those uninitiated it is a day that we Texans, in particular, pay considerable attention to because a brave Tejano led the Mexican forces to victory at the Battle of Puebla. (This all happened back when Texas was part of Mexico). General Ignacio Zaragoza came from the community now known as Goliad. His one-line letter he wrote to President Benito Juárez to inform him about the Mexican victory over the French will forever go down in history - "The national arms have been covered with glory".

Stace at Dos Centavos has an excellent history of the battle and it's historical ramifications.

Like others let me jump into the spirit of the day, here is a video of an interview I gave on the Ron Whitlock Show that focused on Hispanic politics in the United States.

Abraham Lincoln's 200th Birthday

Like most Americans, I have always had a fascination with our 16th President Abraham Lincoln. As a young child on a trip to visit cousins in far away Virginia, my father took me on a short drive to the District of Columbia to visit the Lincoln Memorial. "It was a place to remember our greatest president," he said. I remember the towering figure of the seated Lincoln and thought to myself that he must have been a giant because his statue and the memorial were enormous. Each time I visit D.C. I routinely visit the memorial to remember that first visit and contemplate Lincoln and his meaning to the moment.

On February 12, 2009 this country will recognize the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. In order to appropriately recognize this significant event Congress established the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission to plan the commemoration of the 200th birthday. This commission is joined by a number of other commissions set up for recognizing Lincolns contributions to their state's history. Lincoln's birth state of Kentucky has one as does his boyhood home of Indiana. Of course Illinois, the state where he lived as a young adult has a commission for the bicentennial.

C-Span started in April, on the first Saturday of each month at 7 pm CT, covering events leading to the bicentennial. For lovers of history or admirers of Lincoln these should be interesting events.

This summer I am looking forward to paying a visit to Springfield, the home where Lincoln started both a legal and political career. Perhaps I might share some of those moments when that day arrives. Until then, I recommend that you take your own Lincoln journey of remembrance by following the series of public events leading up to Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday.

Valley Super Delegate Throws Support To Clinton

Edinburg super delegate, Jaime Gonzalez Jr., a trial lawyer, and a DNC member since 2000 is no longer undecided in his support for President. Today Jaime openly made his choice known. The Dallas Morning News has this quote:

"I am supporting Hillary Clinton because I am convinced that she is the best choice for President," Gonzalez said in a statement released by the campaign. "She has shown the leadership qualities that we need to win the presidency in the general election and give Democrats a victory in November."

Now, if the remainder of the super delegates would just make a decision it surely would simplify matters.

House Speaker Visits South Texas

The Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, Tom Craddick, made a visit to South Texas on this day. South Texas College had a brief presentation for the Speaker regarding the growth, successes and needs of the college.

The story coming out of the visit was the projection that the state will enjoy a $15 billion dollar surplus come next session. Local television picked up an interview.

Paul Burka and Ross Ramsey have an interesting podcast on the speaker's race.

Voting Begins in City and School District Elections

I rose early this morning and made my way to city hall before I began my regular work routine. Today marks the beginning of early voting in many of our city and school districts.

My hometown of Edinburg has a school district bond proposal up for consideration along with the city election of two seats on the city council. It has pleased me greatly that the races for city council have been to a larger extent positive and avoided the negative politics seen in the March primary elections. I greeted each of the candidates this morning and wished them well before I proceeded to cast my vote. I hope more people take advantage of voting early. In Edinburg that can be done at city hall.

Please participate in the local and school district elections in your community. Early voting continues through May 6. Election day is May 10.

Burka: Is Texas Turning Blue?

Paul Burka in the May edition of Texas Monthly has an insightful article on the changing politics of Texas appropriately entitled - "Almost Blue".

Your can hear Paul's article on his Behind the Lines podcast - Here.

In February 2006 in the midst of our "wilderness period" I made similar observations of a coming blue Texas.

The South Texas Nation Takes On Vote Harvesters

As I was leaving one of our local restaurants this evening I picked up what looks like a new local news magazine covering South Texas matters of public interest. The "South Texas Nation" magazine caught my specific attention because it took a look at a problem I commented on this last primary election, the use and abuse of vote-harvesters. While many people ignore or even deny the existence of growing abuses I was pleased to see the topic covered in the magazine.

"In this rural zone of about 5,000 residents, some 3,000 voters have cast an early ballot — the large majority of them dragged in by the area’s three political machines. One machine .... has rented more than 40 vehicles, manned by mostly paid drivers whose job is to get voters to the polls with pre-marked sample ballots in hand."

I'm sorry to say that in some cases the reality on the ground, especially when it comes to the treatment of the elderly, goes far beyond what should be tolerated. Unfortunately in the desire to win at all cost, the long term health of our democracy and the interests of our citizens are usually among the first casualties.

photo credit/The Paper

Lena Guerrero 1957-2008

I am saddened to hear about the passing of a good friend. Today former Texas Railroad Commissioner Lena Guerrero died after a long battle with cancer.

I first met Lena in the Young Democrats when she visited Pan American University in Deep South Texas. In the late seventies she was serving as the State President of the YD's and was visiting our fledgling organization. I was pleased to find out that she was from the Valley and had risen so high in the organization. It was quite a rise from the balmy fields of South Texas where as a child she worked as a migrant worker. Not long after she served with distinction in the Texas Legislature, representing a district in Central Austin. Gov. Ann Richards appointed her to the Railroad Commission in 1991. She was the first woman and first Hispanic to hold that post. Lena went on to serve as a lobbyist and I had many pleasant experiences working with her and her husband in my service in the Legislature.

Texas loses a real trail blazer and bright spirit with the passing of Lena Guerrero. My deepest condolences are expressed to her family and to all those who knew and loved her. May God speed.