Saturday, December 24, 2011

The $64,000 Question for All District Attorney Candidates

 

by Jim Barton on Saturday, December 24, 2011 at 8:04pm

     As a kid I longed to answer the $64,000 question before the TV show was cancelled due to scandal.  Scandal is the norm in Brownsville and Cameron County.   We pay a district attorney handsomely in Cameron County to fight corruption, but like the cowardly lion in the Wizard of Oz, Armando Villalobos never had the courage.  He deferred, stepped over, ignored the rampant political corruption in the county so as not to antagonize any segment of political support as he used the district attorney's office to launch his campaign for yet higher office.  Good luck with that, Mando!  True enough, Brownsville does not have a newspaper, but likely the four disparate local bloggers will not take kindly to a "do nothing" district attorney seeking higher office.
 

     The DA's office was proud of a recent partial success against a drug cartel kingpin.  We salute that success and effort.  South of the border that would have taken some intestinal fortitude.  Still, prosecuting a cartel member already locked up should not be minimized as it's part of the job citizens pay for.   Why do corrupt politicians need to be pursued and prosecuted?  Two projects alone, the Port of Brownsville's "bridge to nowhere" and the Weir Project cost the taxpayers $50,000,000 with nothing discernable or tangible produced with that money.  It all went into political rat holes and lined calabaza pockets.  Add a 10 million dollar sports park that cost the tax payers 35 million and you understand why one of the poorest counties in the U.S. needs effective prosecution of political wrongdoing.  Think what all of those wasted and stolen monies could have done for our community.
      Two of the DA candidates, Maria DeFord and Chuck Mattingly currently work in the DA office.  Surely they are aware of some of this corruption.

They know about the Ernie Hernandez/Robert Cadriel matter.  They are informed about the possible deposition perjury by Carlos Quintanilla who sniffed around our $500,000,000 annual budget school district for two years until he accomplished his mission.   Are these candidates willing to prosecute where their former boss was not to protect our community?

     What about Brownsville Cheezmeh's candidate Luis Saenz?  Where does he stand on the prosecution of political corruption?

Or the Port of Brownsville's Carlos Masso.

Where does he stand?

     Will Gus Garza, the so-called "spanking judge",  spank the wrongdoers even if they are political big shots?
That's the $64,000 question.

42 comments:

  1. We will find out very, very soon???

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  2. Todos los mencionados, tienen cola que les pisen. So i guess they will turn a blind eye to the current corruption going on in Cameron county.

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  3. Dear Mr. Editor: I am a 50 yr. old Cameron County woman, registered voter, and a recent reader of your blog. I just want to wish you and your readers Merry Christmas and the best and positive for 2012. As a voter, I have voted for Democrats and Republicans basing my vote on the individual and his/her baggage. Most of the time, these people, in the name of "democracy" serve themselves instead of the community that elected them. I am not a politician, a political figure, nor do I want to be; but I do read blogs, news, commentaries, newspapers, and I DO VOTE. Merry Christmas and Feliz 2012

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  4. "Stand up for your principles, even if you have to stand up alone" thing is....most of these candidates for DA have NO principles!

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  5. Wasn't Brownsville Cheezmeh's candidate successful in prosecuting the Harlingen City Commissioner?

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  6. What? Brownsville Cheezmeh has a candidate?

    I believe BC is a watchdog group who does not endorse any one. They make sure all politicians are accountable for their acts. At least that's my understanding, unless I'm wrong....

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  7. (Wasn't Brownsville Cheezmeh's candidate successful in prosecuting the Harlingen City Commissioner?)

    He failed to get a conviction in the pat ahumada check scandal.

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  8. Brownsville Cheezmeh is awesome!

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  9. Hey you guys, this article is not about BC, it is about which DA candidate is willing to prosecute political corruption!!!
    So far I do not see/read any of them saying "I wil"

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  10. "What? Brownsville Cheezmeh has a candidate?

    I believe BC is a watchdog group who does not endorse any one. They make sure all politicians are accountable for their acts. At least that's my understanding, unless I'm wrong...."

    Cheezmeh is more of a politiquera group now. They accepted money from Erin Hernandez, Carlos Masso and now Luis Saenz. Some of the cheezers even want to be paid now for politiquera work. All of the smart ones left.

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  11. Are these candidates willing to prosecute where their former boss was not to protect our community?

    Ernie Hernandez involvement in getting a County employee to take a test for a flunkie brother in law has been referred to the DA for investigation. With several candidates to choose from, the candidate who takes a stand to prosecute Hernandez is this election's dealbreaker.

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  12. Brownsville Cheezmeh is a joke and all the smart ones run from them, you will see it this election. Hernandez already paid them 2000 dollars that makes her qualified?

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  13. It wasn't $2,000. Cheezmeh got paid $20,000 by the Hernandez clan! and Carlos Masso paid them $15,000. Luis Saenz hasn't sent them his check yet, but he will probably have to pay $20,000.

    Guess the people that left weren't too smart after all?

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  14. "It wasn't $2,000. Cheezmeh got paid $20,000 by the Hernandez clan! and Carlos Masso paid them $15,000. Luis Saenz hasn't sent them his check yet, but he will probably have to pay $20,000.

    Guess the people that left weren't too smart after all?"

    Not everyone wants to be a politiquera.

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  15. I THOUGHT ERASMO CASTRO AND LINDA WOULD BE SMART ENOUGH NOT TO ENDORSE THESE HERNANDEZES...PERO COMO DICE EL DICHO...CON DINERO HASTA BAILA EL PERRO!

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  16. Cheezmeh got $55,000 in one month? that is a lot of money! I who they are going to support then, Masso or Saenz?

    Sheriff Lucio was going to give them $35,000 before January1st and Rene Oliveira was going to give them $25,000

    Are they reporting all this money to IRS?

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  17. How do you comment here.

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  18. Once again guys...Who will prosecute the corruption???? I guesss no one LOL...

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  19. "Cheezmeh got $55,000 in one month? that is a lot of money! I who they are going to support then, Masso or Saenz?

    Sheriff Lucio was going to give them $35,000 before January1st and Rene Oliveira was going to give them $25,000

    Are they reporting all this money to IRS?"


    They also received $50,000 from the Lucio clan and Sofia gave them $10,000. Armando Villalobos paid them $45,000 and Adela Garza paid them $40,000.

    Has anyone called IRS? THIS IS TOO MUCH MONEY FOR ONE GROUP TO RECEIVE IN THREE MONTH PERIOD!

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  20. So is BC corrupt? OMG, and I thought they were good people!

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  21. Jim, if in fact Cheezmeh got money from any of the candidates, then they are not watching after the citizens...they are just as bad as the corrupt politicians.

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  22. That is not true...I do not believe any of this...Hopefully is not true...or is it?

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  23. It is TURE! Veronica Farias paid them $52,000 this past weekend. That is why she can't afford to put out good signs in her campaign against Arturo Nelson. Elia Cornejo made an expensive party at her house last month and give Cheezmeh a $60,000 envelope under the table. Many of us that were sitting at the table say the transaction. These people are raking it in!

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  24. "It is TURE! Veronica Farias paid them $52,000 this past weekend. That is why she can't afford to put out good signs in her campaign against Arturo Nelson. Elia Cornejo made an expensive party at her house last month and give Cheezmeh a $60,000 envelope under the table. Many of us that were sitting at the table say the transaction. These people are raking it in!"

    I doubt any of the above.

    Jim

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  25. "I doubt any of the above."

    Thank you Jim!

    No matter where we stand in our friendship, I am sure that you know us better than what has been posted on your blog. Peace man...

    Brownsville Cheezmeh

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  26. And now Elia Cornejos corruption catches up to her.

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  27. NO! You all quit lying! Nobody got anything more than verbal butt stroking and a few chicken plates, that is all anyone ever gets.

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  28. See I knew it I knew it...BC is not corrupt

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  29. Getting back to the DA subject matter, I would pay money to see a debate of these candidates and have someone from the audience ask the question: "If elected, will you present to the Grand Jury the case involving the Ernie Hernandez' brother-in-law test-taking fiasco?"

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  30. The Ernie Hernandez brother in law issue is a bunch of crap. Robert Lopez, the human resource director at the time, stated there wasnt shit there, ya pinch bolas de pendejos, move onto a better story. I guess Ernie will always have his little blog haters though..

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  31. I wouldn't wory about BC for too much longer, I hear the Feds are cutting a deal with Melissa for her testamony against Linda and Orgasmo. Jajaja say hi to Conrado for me!

    Besos! XOXOXO

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  32. "The Ernie Hernandez brother in law issue is a bunch of crap. Robert Lopez, the human resource director at the time, stated there wasnt shit there, ya pinch bolas de pendejos, move onto a better story. I guess Ernie will always have his little blog haters though.."

    Nice try, Erin. I suppose Robert, a young family man with a newborn, just quit his job for nothing, the same day Cadriel quit his.

    Jim

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  33. Jim, it fucken cracks me up that you think i'm ERin. I don't even live in Brownsville! But I do live on the Island. Haaaaaaaaaa!

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  34. Jimbo with regard ti your comment about Robert Lopez, you should get your facts straight about why he quit. I know why he really quit, believe me it had nothing to do with Ernie and everything to do with Pete Sepulveda and David Garcia. just ask aroudn, you can find out why..

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  35. "Jimbo with regard ti your comment about Robert Lopez, you should get your facts straight about why he quit. I know why he really quit, believe me it had nothing to do with Ernie and everything to do with Pete Sepulveda and David Garcia. just ask aroudn, you can find out why.."

    The next thing you'll tell me is that your Uncle Robert Cadriel was taking intelligence pills to more than triple his test score from 30,33 on the tests he took personally to 98 on the test taken for him by a Human Resource employee.

    As to Robert Lopez, someone may have put a pro-Ernie spin on the story, but he quit the day of the scandal, the same day Robert Cadriel quit his bridge guard job, the same day it was revealed someone in Robert Lopez's Human Resources department took the test for ex-con Cadriel. The truth is usually simple, not convoluted. It's highly unlikely that Robert Lopez chose the very day the scandal broke to "look for other opportunities". Your version, citing other personality issues is just a coverup.

    Jim

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  36. OH NO!!! NOT THE FEDS!! WE KNOW HOW EFFECTIVE THEY ARE AT STOPPING CORRUPTION HERE IN BROWNSVILLE!!! (SARCASM MUCH?) *rolling eyes

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  37. Whay don't you guys leave the personal attacks off, and concentrate on the the main question.
    Would the next DA investigate and prosecute the current corruption at BISD, city and county levels???

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  38. What about the $375,000 Brownsville Cheezmee collected? What are they going to use if for? Is the IRS going to get their cut?

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  39. "What about the $375,000 Brownsville Cheezmee collected? What are they going to use if for? Is the IRS going to get their cut?"

    That's an extraordinary figure. Do you have a source or did you just make that up?

    Jim

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  40. It is confirmed. Contact the State Comptroller. They will send you their quarterly report. I have the documentation. $375,000 this past quarter!

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  41. First of all I do not believe that about BC.
    Now let's focus on what is really important!!

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