(The Edcouch-Elsa Ind.School Dist. Board of Trustees with newest member) I have good news to report out those small communities in the Rio Grande Valley called the Delta Area.
As most of you may know and as I reported, this promising collection of communities was marred by the growth of a political scandal in their school district. Former School Board President, Aaron Gonzalez, was indicted and arrested by the FBI last fall on three counts of conspiracy, extortion and violating the Federal Travel Act in 2000 and 2001. The indictment was updated in early February with two additional charges of extortion. Later Gonzalez denied bond and placed in jail for a witness tampering charge connected to his pending May bribery trial.
Tonight his resignation was accepted and he was removed from office by the Edcouch-Elsa School Board.
Fearing that political disunity might foster other problems for the district, our office and members of the two competing political parties from the area came together to start a unified consensus towards the future of the community. My legislative director, Saul Garcia, who lives in the Edcouch-Elsa School District was chosen to fill the vacated seat once filled by Aaron Gonzalez. The board also selected member Juan Jose Ybarra to become its new president.
Saul Garcia, shown here with his grandmother, was sworn in a few hours ago. I had the honor of swearing the young trustee into office. Thus begins, I hope, a more unified and cooperative effort to bring this community together following its recent trouble with its former school board president. Saul a graduate of Edcouch-Elsa's High school comes from a family with a long history of public service to the Delta community. A public school within the district bears the name of his late father, Santiago Garcia, a former Edcouch city alderman. His mother, Guadalupe Garcia, is an Edcouch city alderman.
Our office will continue to work with all members of this wonderful community to see that this renewed spirit of cooperation continues long into the future. I must extend my appreciation to the courageous individuals who took risk in reaching out to members of the opposing political organization. These acts should not go unnoticed. In difficult times we will need these brave individuals and a growing number of others to hold our community together.
Daniel Perry from The Monitor covered the event.
Center photo by freelance photojournalist, Ismael Garcia.
8 comments:
Saul will make it happen. Hope to see the community come united.
Unfortunately Saul will become part of the problem in the delta area; he'll eventually have to pick his gang, DACO or BEE.
THE EDINBURG STAR NEWS ALSO COVERED THE EVENT. AND EVEN THOUGH THE GUARDIAN WAS NOT THERE IN PERSON THIS PUBLISHER COVERED THE EVENT FOR THEM. IT'S EASY TO FORGET, I KNOW.
Saul is not a person that will be pressured to do anything. He can handle it. People should just let the board work with each other. People have elected thier leaders to do a job not to be thier puppets. Saul has a tough road ahead but I think that he will accomplish his promise
Aaron!
Your Capitol Blog is such an outstanding web site that any time you give credit to a news outlet on your blog, that gives them tremendous publicity, not to mention credibility. I am sure it was an oversight not giving credit to the Edinburg Star and the Rio Grande Guardian for carrying the story on Saul. After all, a Yellow Dog Democrat like you couldn't have forgotten that age-old saying about loyalty in legislative politics: "You dance with the ones who brung you!" By the way, Ismael Garcia, one of the many outstanding photographers in Edinburg, and www.EdinburgPolitics.com were pleased to get you a couple of those photos that you posted about Saul's big night.
Keep up your good work, and congrats on being nominated for one of the nation's best blogs. You are setting a great trend in politics and democracy.
Hey, Saul, right on with your appointment to the EE school board. You are a man of honor and integrity, traits that you share with tens of thousands of Delta Area residents.
David A. Diaz
Saul is the man for the job. Aaron didn't win his last campaign because of Aaron, Saul had a lot to do in that. he's young but don't let that fool you. A leader in the making
Question Rep. With all the corruption and lack of leadership in school boards around the state, would you be willing to sponsor a bill that would limit the number of terms that a school board member can serve on the board? If no, why? If yes, what would you recommend and why? Explain fully. This is a great blog!
I guess we are not getting an answer?
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