Erin Hernandez Garcia Campaign Receives Big Boost from Houston

As the May 29 primary nears and with early voting starting in less than a week on May 14, the Erin Hernandez Garcia candidacy is pulling out all the stops. Did you expect any less from the Hernandez's?

The Hernandez's have added a highly visible operative to their campaign. No, not another politiquera, but a woman who's real name is likely Josephina Canales Auten, although she has numerous aliases. On Facebook she is generally known as Scarlett O'Hara. She currently resides in Houston, although in recent days, she's been a prominent part of Erin's events.

Ms. Canales is the former daughter-in-law, long divorced from the first son of Mike Begum, now deceased. When Ms. Begum declared her candidacy for Justice of the Peace, District 2-2, Canales resurfaced, allegedly attempting to extort money from the Begums, threatening to say nasty things about them otherwise.

At the time of the attempted extortion, Alex Begum released this public statement:

by Alex Begum

"I love social media and the great uses it allows. Like everything else, there is a good and a bad, particularly in politics.

Every candidate running for office endures mixed public comments in politics. However, traditional media usually utilizes fact checking, interviews both sides and presents the issues to the viewer. With the advent of social media, none of this occurs. As such, many things that are written are wholly incorrect or just complete fabrications.

Unfortunately, my late half brother's ex-wife has crept up and attempted to extort my mother. This lady who goes by the screen name of Scarlett O'hara is really Josefina Canales. She has also gone by numerous married names including Josefina Auten, Josefina Myhre and Josefina Begum. She claims to have gone to Harvard on her Facebook, although she never attended this college and does not have a college degree. This lady has a long and sordid history.

Recently, she attempted to extort my mother by sending her a Facebook message. She said that if my mother did not pay her, she would bad mouth her on the Internet. Of course, my mother refused to pay her one single penny!

We are in the process of reporting her actions to the authorities and looking at additional legal options.

I guess this is the unfortunate part of politics......no wonder why many good folks refuse to run for office. You get these looney people coming out of the woodwork.....

Onward!"

Alex Begum

Of course, now with "Scarlett O'Hara" pictured prominently in the Erin H. Garcia campaign, the plot thickens. Will the Hernandez's attempt to use Ms. Canales to sully the reputation of Yolanda Begum just before the primary? We do not know. That decision will be made by the Hernandez camp.

What we do know is that Ms. Canales faces legal action in Houston. Again, extortion is alleged. We will allow the exact details to come out at trial, although we're told a married man, pictures, attempts to extort with threats of sharing the affair with a wife and co-workers are included in the allegations.

Here is the case reference: Hart Eugene Schleicher vs. Josephina Canales Auten, Cause No. 2011-74258, 165th Judicial District Court, Harris County, Texas. A Temporary Restraining Order is in force.