IS CATY PRESAS-GARCIA THE MOST CORRUPT CANDIDATE RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN BROWNSVILLE?

 

Caty Presas-Garcia

Whether you know her by her given name, Catalina, or the more feminine "Cata" or more youthful "Caty," this frequent candidate for office over the last couple decades, has proven time and again that she cares more about what benefits Caty than serving the interests of Brownsville taxpayers.

During Caty's years of service as a BISD trustee, for example, she was a dutiful and loyal advocator for the delinquent school tax collection firm of Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson, LLP.

Caty's devotion to the Linebarger firm sometimes bordered on the humorous.

Once, during a presentation by the Pena Law Firm, represented by Enrique Pena, Caty chose to take a potty break during that rival company's time slot.

The rythmic, but loud clogging of Caty's footwear could be heard as she made her way and back from the lady's restroom.

Despite repeated, seemingly annoyed requests by BISD Chairman Enrique Escobedo for Pena to continue his presentation, he patiently waited for Caty to return before restarting.

"I will when Mrs. Presas-Garcia makes it back in," Pena stated.

Then, after Caty was finally settled in her seat, Enrique Pena added with some obvious sarcasm:  "Thank you for joining us, Mrs. Presas-Garcia."

After Presas-Garcia and gang were successful in changing BISD's delinquent tax collection firm to Linebarger, Presas-Garcia spearheaded an increase in the collecting agency's fee, from 12.5%, as it had been with the Pena firm, to 15% for Linebarger.  That immediately added $125,000 to Linebarger's collections.

But, likely, Presas-Garcia's lowest point as BISD Trustee came when she, along with Enrique Escobedo, Lucy Longoria and Christina Saavedra voted to dismiss the $14.3 million lawsuit against Ted Parker's Healthsmart for insurance overcharges.

Parker had faced a similar lawsuit with the city of Lubbock, TX, but, with the help of convicted con artist Carlos Quintanilla, had succeeded in securing a settlement for a mere $4 million.

Parker summoned the clever, super-slick Quintanilla to Brownsville to do the same and he was instrumental in the election of Presas-Garcia, Longoria and Saavedra, whom he affectionately referred to as his "bitches."

Again, Quintanilla, utilizing his three recruits along with Enrique Escobedo, settled the $14 million lawsuit for mere pittance, depriving BISD's huge district of needed funding, despite the fact that local attorneys were willing to take the case on a contingency basis.

Presas-Garcia, a realtor, was also involved in a theft of funds lawsuit initiated by the buyer and seller of a property the sale of which she handled.  The lawsuit contended that the buyer, Miguel Salinas, had entrusted Presas-Garcia with $8,000 to be used as downpayment on the property, but Presas-Garcia had submitted a mere $500 to the title company.

Miguel Salinas, the buyer and Juan M. Figueroa, the seller, joined together in a lawsuit to recover the funds from Presas-Garcia.

Quintanilla on the left, Presas-Garcia second from right

If you need more documentation of Presas-Garcia's unfitness for office, Google her name and "milk scam" to read about another of her personal enrichment projects along with con artist Quintanilla.

For longtime Brownsville voters, who've kept up with Presas-Garcia's shenanigans over the years, most of this is old news, but we post it to give newer voters some perspective as they make up their minds about the candidates running for office in our city.