Rifts in Local Democratic Party Apparent Despite Huge Turnout for Davis

Wendy Davis

Certainly visiting gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis was unaware of the severe rifts within the Cameron County Democratic Party, would possibly even having difficulty believing that statement due to the extremely large turnout.

Hauntingly symbolic of that local split was Carlos Masso, dressed in a black suit, standing outside the new headquarters of the Cameron County Texas Democratic Women's new quarters in the building once occupied by Betty's Tortas at 1767 Boca Chica Blvd.  Masso, the new Vice-Chair of the Cameron County Democratic Party, had not been banished to outside the venue, but, like other prominent local Democrats standing outside was simply a victim of overcrowding and his decision to come to the event on time, not early as other party officers obviously had done.

Inside the building, newly elected Chairperson Amber Medina, was active before the event greeting

Carlos Masso, Vice-Chair

visitors, then gave the introductory speech to the candidate.  New Treasurer William Skaggs, hovering around the sign-in table, acted as an unofficial doorman, then worked in crowd control, gruffly demanding a parting of the throng so new visitors could enter.  Secretary Teresa Saldivar, standing along the stage's backdrop took numerous photos and also greeted the crowd.  All three had likely been at the venue for some time, involved in last minute organization.  

What Wendy Davis likely does not know is that her invitation to Brownsville came primarily from a faction within the local party, not the entire party.  As reported in this and other blogs, it was Cindy Hinojosa's running feud with former Cameron County Chair Sylvia Garza-Perez that provided the impetus to create an alternative women's Democratic organization.

Please remember that in a sneaky, unpublicized meeting of the local party September 7, 2013, the installation of Carlos Masso as County Chair was orchestrated.  The sequence of events included then Vice-Chair, Doroteo Garcia, husband of Erin H. Garcia, resigning and replaced by Masso, then Chairperson Sylvia-Garza-Perez announcing automatic resignation due to declaring for public office.  That series of events opened the door for Masso to be declared County Chair at that meeting.

After a letter of protest by Precinct Chair Cindy Hinojosa declared that Masso's selection violated Democratic Party Rules, a make-up meeting was held October 11, resulting in the election of Amber Medina as county chair by a 13-12 vote.  Several party members, associated with the Sylvia Garza-Perez/Ernie Hernandez/Tony Martinez faction were livid, with outgoing Treasurer Jeff Duvall particularly vocal.

Jeff Duvall

"Amber Medina has never even attended our meetings, nor have the precinct chairs brought in to vote for her.  This has all been orchestrated by the Hinojosas to put the local party back under the control of Gilbert," contended Mr. Duvall.

So, it was the Hinojosa faction that actually arranged the visit of Candidate Wendy Davis(This event was planned before the new county chair was elected).  Making it seem a very natural invite is the fact that Cindy Hinojosa's hubby, Gilberto Hinojosa, is State Democratic Chair.  I did not observe Ernie, Norma or Erin Hernandez in attendance. Mayor Tony Martinez's absence and that of the City Commission and BISD Board Members could certainly be excused as the City Commission AND the BISD Board were meeting simultaneously with the event.

It was also no accident that, present at the Wendy Davis event were State Representatives Rene Oliveira and Eddie Lucio III, but not State Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.  Oliveira and Eddie III may have similar viewpoints with regard to women's issues involving abortion to Wendy Davis.  Eddie III's father, Eddie Lucio, Jr., does not.

The "Stand for Texas Women" movement, a banner of which was prominent at the Davis event is largely a protest against two Senate bills, one sponsored by Lucio, Jr., SB 17, calling for a woman to take a 3 hour webinar on adoption before submitting to an abortion.  

Also notable by their absence were members of the local news media.  The Brownsville Herald may have felt they had given Davis sufficient coverage with Ty Johnson's story about Davis visit at UTB.  The Brownsville Herald, KGTV Channel 4, Harlingen and KVEO-TV News 23, Brownsville all covered the Greg Abbott event last month with words, video and pictures, even spending time in the interview room with Abbott.  It just seems odd that one of the largest political events in recent years in the City of Brownsville went uncovered by local media.

Ms. Davis missed an opportunity to apologize to the crowd for her tardy arrival(30 minutes).  None in the crowd seemed to mind with spontaneous cheers initiating from within the crowd ending in "Wendy, Wendy, Wendy!"  Greg Abbott apologized profusely last month for his abrupt departure without "pressing the flesh" at last month's event.  While acknowledging that, we did criticize his campaign for the "over-protective" posture with their candidate.