Nena and I ventured into the Rio Viejo subdivision for the second time in three days for a political event. First, the League of Women Voters meeting, now the Filemon Vela Wine-Tasting Meet and Greet, the events in adjacent homes on Calle Jacaranda. Many of us thought of this neighborhood in the 60's as "where rich people live", although now, some of the houses seem actually modest, but tasteful. No longer present are the gardeners with sharpened machetes who kept the St. Augustine from ever touching the sidewalks or curbs with an angled cut into the clay or the maids in starched white who answered the door, mopped the Saltillo-tiled floors and nannied the young for $10 a week.
Politics was not the star for this event as Filemon Vela yielded the proverbial floor to the wine vendor/liquor store owner Mike Jones, who doubtlessly co-sponsored the event. The so-called six degrees of separation theory seemed understated when I learned that Jones was best buds with my baby brother Tim Barton, local liquor salesman extraordinaire and that Jones was from Liverpool, England, home of the Beatles.
Did I mention that Nena and I received the Beatles White Album as a wedding present over 43 years ago? Jones drew an imaginary loop in the air to illustrate why some wine goes for 10 dollars a bottle, but others sell for several hundred. I nodded knowingly without revealing that I stock my refrigerator with 6 dollar product from H.E.B.
The candidate made no political statement at this event, but the event itself did. First of all, with seemingly little promotion, the house was full with lively conversations in every corner. Little politics was being discussed in favor of art, music, dance and dog psychology. The ultra gracious Rose Vela made everyone comfortable as did the beautiful Amanda Saldana, who flew in from Santa Barbara to help in the campaign.
Perhaps as relevant as those who attended were those who did not: Gilberto Hinojosa, Ernie Hernandez and family, Jared Hockema, Sylvia Perez-Garza. No prominent presence of current party officials and candidates. I counted one former and one current candidate in the room. Considering the current reputation of the local Democratic Party, that may have been the most delicious morsel of all. Very tasteful.
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Great article Jim. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWe have our next LWV meeting on the 11th, same place, same time. Nena and you are cordially invited.
(I counted one former and one current candidate in the room.)
ReplyDeleteNo name?
Yolanda Begum, Ruben Pena.
Delete(Yolanda Begum, Ruben Pena.)
DeleteAnd you couldn't name drop that in the story.
Why would Yolanda Begum be there if everyone knows that her and her "mijo" Alex are suppporting Villalobos? hmmmmmm? Maybe Armando needs to watch out...
ReplyDeleteis ANYONE still supporting Villalobos?? lol
DeleteEstella Chavez Vasquez and other officials also attended, although this was a social wine tasting event not a political party. Hands down the most well attended private wine tasting I've ever seen in Brownsville.
ReplyDeleteYes, indeed. I spoke with Estela and her husband.
DeleteJ
Jim, before you jump into bed with Ruben Pena, you should really do some research on Ruben Pena. That man is not only an inept attorney, but he has gotten into some very serious trouble because he stole money from an estate many years ago. Do your homework, don't just write out of your ass. He was arrested for the incident and them got himself off an a statute of limitations defense. He was just served with another lawsuit just last week regarding the same estate. See for yourself its all public record.
ReplyDeleteOne at a time Erin! One at a time.
DeleteYawn. The Hernandezes seem to always try and smear everyone around them. thought I heard Ruben Pena had filed a civil suit against the Hernandezes for defamation, over this very issue
DeleteJim, I am not Erin, I happen to be someone who worked for Ruben many, many moons ago when he was in Harlingen. My goodness Jim, your obsession with Erin and the Hernandez family is a bit ridiculous.
Delete(My goodness Jim, your obsession with Erin and the Hernandez family is a bit ridiculous.)
DeleteI agree. Jim, you are sounding obsessed. If it's not Cheezmeh bashing, it's Ernie on your blog.
No one cares about Cheezmeh anymore. They don't merit enough interest to bash. Is Erin sending in the comments about Ruben Pena? No shit Sherlock, these are the exact same comments about Ruben Pena made during her daddy Ernie's race.
DeleteI agree with much of the above. Cheezmeh has dwindled down to nothing; a guy in Austin and three middle-aged ladies here. All of the talented folks who accomplished things last year are long gone.
DeleteAs for my seeming preoccupation with Ernie and Erin, I just feel that we're at a watershed moment, a tipping point. Ernie has profiteered from the citizens for 30 years but is on the verge of extending his greed into another generation.
There are, of course, many corrupt officials besides Ernie. There is much work to do.
Jim
Great people in your photos, bodes well for Filemon
ReplyDeleteWho's the Vela guy? Haven't seen him at any forum or function for candidates.
ReplyDeleteAnd you won't. He is a Republican running as a Democrat hoping that daddy's reputation and the palanca will carry him in. Familiar story. Issues? You have got to be kidding!
DeleteFilemon looks like a stealth candidate with his mom making all the phone calls and calling in favors.
DeleteI've come to expect a degree of idiocy in Brownsville, but even I was surprised when political forums were scheduled during an open filing period. Before all candidates had finished filing or were in the middle of it, debates were held? Ah Brownsville. Looking forward to hearing what Mr. Vela has to say.
DeleteThe "debates" were amateurish endeavors by UTB/TSC and Valley Veterans. The latter was specifically designed to push certain candidates. Perhaps a professionally produced debate will come later in the campaign.
DeleteAny candidate's forum is important for every candidate to attend so that the public can meet and get to know the candidate's. It's a shame that Vela has chosen not to attend. Guess he feels that his last name will itself win the election.
DeleteThe Brownsville Herald says two Congressional candidates, Salomon Torres and Filemon Vela were barred from participating in the UTB/TSC Congressional forum by the forum organizers, because their candidacy paperwork was still being processed by the state. The UTB Congressional forum date was in the middle of the Congressional filing period. The UTB organizers refused to move the forum to a more appropriate date, such as after all candidates finished filing and the filing period closed. They apparently did not want 100% of the candidates to participate. And this UTB group calls itself PROJECT 100%, no joke! You can't make this stuff up. Are Project 100% organizers aware that an 11th candidate and former DA from Willacy, Juan Angel Guerra, also decided to run for Congress? Was he even invited?
DeleteTorres and Vela had the opportunity to file but had not made up their mind if they were going to run or not. On the date of the UTB forum, they were not official candidates so you can't blame the college for not being invited.
DeleteWrong again. A quick google search shows that Filemon Vela, Salomon Torres and Juan Angel Guerra had already decided to run, filed and declared their Congressional candidacies with the Federal Election Commission in Washington D.C., long before the forum. Furthermore they even publicly announced their candidacies in the Brownsville Herald, Monitor and Valley Morning Star weeks before the UTB/TSC forum.
DeleteSadly, because UTB allowed a forum to be held during an open filing period, candidates like Rosa Meza Harrison decided not to run in our congressional district a few days later, and moved her campaign to the Corpus Congressional district, but she was allowed to waste the students time participating in this forum. While three actual District 34 candidates were excluded. Would it honestly have been that difficult to postpone this forum by a week until the filing period had closed and all candidates' paperwork and district movement was settled? This reeks of political favoritism, or at best, very inept planning.
Someone needs to ask Father Armand Matthew, founder of Project 100%, what the hell is going on with their organization.
DeleteOnly answer is that Torres, Vela and Guerra are not viable candidates. They could have filed when the filing originally opened in December and chose not to. Don't seem to be that committed to run.
DeleteMary said...
ReplyDeleteHello everyone, just to let you know that the LWV-RGV will hold their board meeting on April 11, 2012. This meeting is strictly for board members, however, we will host another one at a latter date for public attendandance, and hope you guys honor us with your presence.
As always, a big thanks to all.
Mary
Denise Saenz-Blanchard is the best qualified candidate in the District 34 Congressional race because of her many years of helping communities and individuals as a congressional aide and chief of staff in washington d.c.; such as establishing a veterans clinic in harlingen for our veterans and the border wall that brings us some sense of security. The position is only for two years and she can start working immediately from day one. Ask yourself, who best can do for us...THE PEOPLE-------DENISE
ReplyDeleteOh God. This is so TACKY Denise!!!!! Plugging your campaign on Filemon Vela's wine tasting article?????
DeleteI agree with Denise Blanchard being the right choice for Congress because she seems to have our best interest in mind. Some candidates are only in it for themselves, to make money or as a stepping stone to higher office. I've heard her at the forums and she knows what she's talking about and the other candidates seem to be in left field.
ReplyDelete@ Anon 9:56: Your reasoning to support Denise is the exact reasoning why people are not supporting her. After all these years of Denise being in a position to help the area, we remain a neglected, isolated area with countless needs. She's had her chance and it has not made our communities better. Time for new blood.
ReplyDeleteTime for new blood is right. there with Solomon Ortiz driving our town into the ground. What is the real story on Ortiz and the $21,000,000 Bridge to Nowhere at the Port of Brownsville?
DeleteThe $21,000,000 bridge to nowhere has nothing to do with Denise, thats why those who were involved are not supporting Denise because she's not one of them. Denise will win because she's sincere and honest.
DeleteDenise Blanchard was Solomon Ortiz's right hand and #1 defender when the Ex Congressman was under investigation for keeping money from his travel junkets abroad, when questions were asked about Chinese illegal aliens being brought to the US, and his failure to show up to vote, she was making excuses the whole time. Although they didn't spend half as much time coming up with any real explanation as they did trying to make Blake Farenthold, their challenger look bad because he had gone to a pajama-themed charity fundraiser and was photographed in pajamas. This is the Solomon Ortiz legacy; hide, deny, deflect, attack the other guy. So worn out and predictable this strategy is actually funny when Denise does it in 2012.
Deletehow can you trust someone like filemon vela when he files for congress as a democrat but gives nearly $100,000.00 to republicans to run against democrats and encourages his wife to run as a republican against roy valdez. his father judge filemon vela was a great democrat and person, I knew judge vela, judge vela was a friend of mine, filemon jr...your no judge vela! (complete opposite)
ReplyDelete^^^ above comment written by Solomon Ortiz or Denise Blanchard, Solomon Ortiz' old assistant before he was booted out of office
DeleteFilemon Vela has donated approximately $250,000.00 to Democratic candidates and causes. He is the only congressional candidate with the expertise to be taken seriously and be effective in Washington D.C.
ReplyDeleteThere are several congressional candidates running who can be effective and be taken seriously in Washington D.C. and BE TRUSTED and Fil Vela is not one of them!!!
Delete^^^ above comment written by Solomon Ortiz or Denise Blanchard, Solomon Ortiz' old assistant before he was booted out of office
DeleteFace it.... Filemon Vela can not be trusted....just ask his whole family, and i'm not neither solomon nor denise and don't know who i'm voting for, but I do know it won't be fil vela.
ReplyDelete