But, Who's Behind the Two Golden Boys Running for City Commissioner?

93% of Brownsville's registered voters do not care who is elected as City Commissioner.  They simply answered a question in the affirmative at the Department of Public Safety that delayed obtaining or renewing a driver's license by 60 seconds.  They didn't want to look dumb or, worse yet, un-American, but never intended to actually vote.

Mayor Tony Martinez

That's just fine with Tony Martinez with his only concern being the 4 votes he needs to pass his agenda through the City Commission.  Don't forget that, before Martinez took office as Mayor in May 2011, he financed and ran the campaign of Rose Gowen, lent financial and organizational support to Estela Chavez-Vasquez, rented a house to Melissa Zamora and flooded the city with a veritable sea of blue "Believe in Brownsville" signs to garner the 4th vote, the tiebreaker, if necessary.  Tony may not actually believe in the city, but he believes in getting his ducks in a row.

Given this history, do you believe Tony is approaching his re-election campaign flat-footed, without nailing down 3 who will march in lockstep, adding his own tie-breaking vote when necessary?

This brings us to the two young, charismatic lawyers associated with the Ben Neece Law Office at 1000 E. Van Buren St., Mike Gonzalez and Cesar de Leon. Both practice law out of the same building as Ben, but advertise individually.

Chris, Mike Gonzalez

Mike and Chris Gonzalez frequently took advantage of open mike night at Ben Neece's Crescent Moon Cantina a couple years ago to showcase their Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel repertoire with a bit of self-deprecating humor added, even feigning Smothers Brothers type rivalry.

Attorney Michael Gonzalez

Now, Mike Gonzalez has announced for City Commission, District 1, Southmost, facing incumbent Ricardo Longoria, Jr. and serious challenger Roman Perez.

Another declared candidate associated with Neece is Attorney Cesar de Leon, reportedly the nephew of former City Commission

Cesar de Leon at Announcement

candidate Martin Sarkis, who is running for City Commission At-Large "A," the office vacated by Estela Chavez-Vasquez.  De Leon, like Gonzalez, is well-spoken, comfortable in front of a group.  There is some speculation that Cesar's uncle, Martin Sarkis, may be the favorite to fill the final four months, 8 commission meetings of the term. 

Martinez is said to be comfortable with either Gonzalez or De Leon, not so much with Roman Perez or even Ricardo Longoria, Jr, but the new candidacies may have evolved from power breakfasts this fall between Ben Neece and Abraham Galonsky. Galonsky still has issues with those opposing the sale of Lincoln Park as it could disrupt his hopeful sale of a 30 acre plot next to the smelly lot proposed for the new Lincoln Park.(City Attorney Mark Sossi opened the door for the decision to sell or convey Lincoln Park to the ultra-rich University of Texas system to be reconsidered by the commission, stating in October that the City Commission had only agreed to a resolution to engage in negotiations for a sale, not an actual sale.) 

Neece, who will have his municipal judge contract with the city under review during the next mayoral term, also is said to be promoting a different law firm for delinquent tax collections.  So, the tandem of Galonsky and Neece may have a vested interest in these races. 

Jude Benavides, Ph.D.

While Mayor Martinez is said to be comfortable with Cesar de Leon, a close associate of Rose Gowen on the BCIC board, Jude Benavides, is also Tony-approved.  Benavides, a professor at UTB and candidate for City Commissioner At Large "A," is a true believer in the city's preoccupation with hike and bike trails, despite other more pressing needs.