Larry Jokl Locks Out Cameron County Democratic Party

Larry Jokl

A notice posted to the door of the Cameron County Democratic Party headquarters on the ground floor of the Majestic Mall on E. 10th St. in Brownsville gives notice that eviction proceedings will commence in 3 days if rent due and late fees are not paid.  The notice, posted on a metal door, observable behind a locked screen mesh security outer door, bears the name of Brownsville realtor and Democratic Party operative Larry Jokl.  We were alerted to the posting by a Facebook inbox message stating:  "big ole eviction notice on the Democratic hq."  In actuality, the posting was not an eviction notice, but did threaten that "eviction proceedings" would begin if the rent was not paid.

Larry Jokl, prominent in the Denise Blanchard for Congress campaign, was receiving $375 per month rent for the spartan two room office in

the Majestic Mall.  In the first meeting after the election of new party officers on October 24th, newly installed party treasurer, William Skaggs, announced stricter controls on the handling of monies by the local party, stating "I will not pay any bills not directed to the Cameron County Democratic Party." Skaggs stated that the local party retained $3,200 in their bank account.  Outgoing County Chair Sylvia Garza-Perez indicated during that meeting that she and her husband had been paying the local party's bills "out of their own pocket."
At that same meeting, newly elected Cameron County Democratic Party Chair Amber Medina, citing a need for free accommodations until the local party got on its financial feet, stated that free, temporary office space had been offered by State Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. and Congressman Filemon Vela.  The local party opted to take advantage of Lucio's offer while looking for a permanent location, indicating that they were holding their final meeting in the Majestic Mall location.  Rotating party meetings to different locations in Cameron County was also considered.

Apparent acrimony between two prominent factions in the local party surfaced recently with a failed attempt to circumvent Democratic Party Rules by selecting a new party chair without giving local precinct chairs proper notification. That meeting, which took place on September 7, 2013, resulted in the apparent election of Carlos Masso as chair.

A letter of protest from Cindy Hinojosa, wife of Gilberto Hinojosa and also a local precinct chair, detailing specific rules seemingly overlooked, prompted a make-good meeting, which was held October 11, 2013, resulting in the election of Amber Medina as Party Chair, Carlos Masso as Vice-Chair, William Skaggs as Treasurer and Teresa Saldivar as Secretary.

After that meeting, party members who had favored Carlos Masso, were visibly dejected, crestfallen and vocal in their assertion that they had been blindsided by Precinct Chairs under the control of former County Chair Gilberto Hinojosa.   Mayor Tony Martinez, a Masso supporter, who represented himself as the Precint 38 Chair, was not allowed to vote.

Since the posted notice is difficult to read in full through the wire mesh, here it is in its entirety:

October 29, 2013


You have been locked out for non-payment of rent.  In order to retrieve your personal items you must contact the office of Brownsville Real Estate Management Co. first to pay rent due and late fees in order to obtain entry to the premises.

You may call the management company at (956)778-7181.  If we do not hear from you in three days then formal eviction proceedings will begin.


Brownsville Real Estate Management Co.

Larry Jokl
Manager