by Jim Barton on Saturday, December 24, 2011 at 12:13pm
When Gilberto Hinojosa decided to give up the Cameron County Democratic Chair to run for the state version of that office it was a godsend to the citizens of Brownsville and Cameron County. Hinojosa has been viewed by many as the poster boy for corruption, backdoor dealing and influencing elections in Cameron County and is closely associated with Abel Limas, Conrado Cantu and Jim Solis. The obvious win-win situation would be for Hinojosa to vacate the county chair, then lose his bid for the state chair.
Jared Hockema is one of three candidates filing for the office. Hockema, a slender, delicately featured young man with a choir boy appearance filled in for Hinojosa the other night at the Democrat Party meeting at the VFW hall. The meeting had been scheduled to slot the candidates, but that has been postponed until February 3. Hockema did not waste the opportunity, though. He displayed his expertise to the captive audience, discussing a variety of filing and election issues. Some viewed this as his audition for the job of County Democratic Chair. A longtime political observer took me aside: "Jared may be personable, but don't forget he is Gilbert's right hand man. He did a lot of Hinojosa's dirty work."
Sylvia Garza-Perez, another candidate for Democratic Chair, was very assertive at the party meeting, several times interupting Hockema without first asking to be recognized. This was amusing to a group of us as they seemed to be sparring a bit. If the acoustics were better at the VFW hall we would have placed a blow-by-blow video of the exchange on the blog. "Sylvia is a very aggressive campaigner. She has absolutely no qualms about using politiqueras." Jerry Mchale described Sylvia as "Rick Zayas' puppet".
John "Roca" Shergold is the other candidate. He has a reputation for being a standup guy. "He would be a great chairperson," said one insider. "My only worry is that he's tried for the position twice before and lost."
Voters have an opportunity to steer local Democratic politics in another direction. Selecting a different kind of Democratic Chair would be a start.
It would be good to hear what makes each candidate good, rather than quote the "puppet" argument from another blogger and "an insider." What makes your preferred candidate a "stand up guy." None of that talks about the issues. Let's hear how they feel on liberal issues, since they would be the chairperson for the liberals....not the Libertarians, or the Republicans.
ReplyDeleteI want the man or woman who has the most blood that drips from their heart:-)
Gilbert has got to go!!!!!!!! No one in Austin wants him either!!!
ReplyDeletegood article but headline is confusing, rename it to something like: Gilbert Hinojosa Cronies Vie To Be Cameron County's Next Democratic Chair
ReplyDeleteCan you give us more data on Gilbert? What specifically makes him so bad?
ReplyDeleteShergold is crazy and confrontational to a fault, just ask around. Hokema is a homo and Gilbert can control him. Sylvia is crooked and aggressive in getting her way. More of the same for Cameron County unless there is another candidate.
ReplyDelete"Shergold is crazy and confrontational to a fault, just ask around. Hokema is a homo and Gilbert can control him. Sylvia is crooked and aggressive in getting her way. More of the same for Cameron County unless there is another candidate."
ReplyDeleteThese are the three choices.
Jim
Shergold may be confrontational but for all the right reasons. Unlike the other candidates vying for the position, John is sincere in attempting to return the Demo Party to its original roots and purge it from the sewer the Hinojosa cancer has placed it in which currently prevails.
ReplyDeleteConfrontational to this pack of liberal rats, is a person trying to do the right thing and calling them out on it! If you catch one with there hand in the cookie jar, don't say anthing! They may label you confrontational!
ReplyDeleteI hope HINOJOTO gets the democRATA state chair and his "mouth piece" hockema, Cameron Co chair for the final nails ON THE COFFIN needed to KILL THE democRATAS in TEXAS LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL
ReplyDeleteits not a good confrontational. Shergold cannot work with anyone. There is no right choice in this race.
ReplyDeleteShergold can and will work with honest people, however, there is NONE in office right now.
ReplyDeleteReceived this information:
ReplyDelete"Just to clarify, it's not too late for new candidates to jump in this race! The filing period for cameron county Democratic Party Chairman candidates will reopen in late January and the new deadline is February 1st."
Jim
Can you give us more data on Gilbert? What specifically makes him so bad?
ReplyDeleteWell, when County Judge, he tried like hell to sell off Isla Blanca park to hotel concerns. There was the whole "Red River" trash debacle, constant promotion of the status quo within the party, promoting Hilary even after the convention chose Obama, denying any use of Cameron County Democratic Party assets to be used for Obama later in the general election, again after the convention picked Obama. The list goes on and on......
"Shergold can and will work with honest people"
ReplyDeleteThing is, who are they? First we need to elect honest people to offices, so John Shergold can work with them.
Well, when County Judge, he tried like hell to sell off Isla Blanca park to hotel concerns. There was the whole "Red River" trash debacle, constant promotion of the status quo within the party, promoting Hilary even after the convention chose Obama, denying any use of Cameron County Democratic Party assets to be used for Obama later in the general election, again after the convention picked Obama. The list goes on and on......
ReplyDeleteHi who are you? This is great information. Would you please privately message Jim your contact information, have something waiting in the wings you may be very interested in
Shergold has helped alot of teachers and school
ReplyDeletedistrict employees against BISD and other school districts, and other goverment employers over the years like the guy fired by the City of Rio Hondo, not to mention helping that lady recently against the City of Brownsville for the dog bite case for free as reported by the TV reporter and getting the charges dismissed, he went against the Railroads while they blocked people in their cars as an attorney for the city and in private practice came to the defense of a city worker who was allegedly fired for eating a candybar, no wonder Shergold is called confrontational by special interests who supported Conrado Cantu, Limas and the rest. It is going to be an interesting race to see if an honest person can get elected in this county.
Shergold honest? Humble? Only in it for the little guy? Not confrontational? Seriously???
ReplyDeleteGilberto Hinojosa Moves to Stop Corruption in Cameron County
ReplyDeleteHeadline should read, Gilberto Hinojosa Moves, out of Brownsville. This should Stop Corruption in Cameron County.
It's all about the puctuation.
"Gilberto Hinojosa Moves to Stop Corruption in Cameron County
ReplyDeleteHeadline should read, Gilberto Hinojosa Moves, out of Brownsville. This should Stop Corruption in Cameron County.
It's all about the puctuation."
Thanks for the lesson in "puctuation". lol
The original headline is better, but is a play on words, which goes over the head of some people, unfortunately.