Political corruption, back door deals, influence peddling by convicted RICO felons paralyzes our community. Millions of dollars of desperately needed funding gets flushed down rat holes while our politicos enrich themselves. Add up the 21 million paid to Dennenbaum Engineering, the 10 million dollar sports park that somehow cost 35 million and the 14 million in overcharges by HealthSmart to BISD that our majority four trustees let slide in a "wink-wink" deal. My math totals 60 millions of much needed dollars tossed aside or exchanged for calabaza.
As stated weeks ago in Mean Mister Brownsville:
Villalobos as district attorney is as effective as a lifeguard with a water phobia. As we stated a few days ago: "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."
GRADING THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY CANDIDATES
My personal criteria is simple. Is your resume' free of apparent corruption? Are you articulate enough to effectively prosecute a case personally? Are you willing to prosecute local politicians who break the law in Cameron County? I won't bother to distinguish the candidates by their political party, because I don't care about that.
Carlos Masso: Mr. Masso seems to be the favorite of at least two blogs locally with ads placed in both. Masso is not part of the solution to county corruption, but part of the problem. Do you recall the 21 million paid to Dennenbaum Engineering for which the citizens got nothing, nada, zilch? Mr. Masso was part of the Brownsville Navigation District who agreed to a settlement of only one of those millions paid to the DA's office. He chose not to fight for the taxpayers, but meekly acquiesced to the huge contractor's interests. I don't care if he's Perry Mason in the courtroom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GRADE-F
Luis Saenz Mr. Saenz mentions 19 years of experience in prosecutorial style duties. A sexual harassment charge against him was dismissed. I'm told his office received an unfavorable performance rating. None of that matters to me. I'm only concerned with his two inept, ineffectual prosecutions of Pat Ahumada in the check theft case, because I think that was slam dunk case if clearly articulated to a jury. I'm told that at the time of Ahumada's depositing of the $26,000 from a vendor into his own personal bank account, his account was $180 in arrears. He proceeded to a trip to Tampico to "promote Brownsville" immediately after the deposit. When approached by the Brownsville Police Department, Ahumada stated that the money had already been returned to the city. That was a lie. It was returned later that afternoon. That timeline and sequence of events was not clearly presented to either jury. Instead, Saenz got tangled up in arguing whether or not Ahumada had his glasses when he made the deposit. Based on prosecutorial performance and baggage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . GRADE-C
Gus Garza Like Saenz, Garza has some experience, as a prosecutor and judge. He is known for corporal punishment issued in dealing with juveniles, thus the nickname "the spanking judge." His comments at forums tended to deal more with "America" than Cameron County. His responses were more platitudes about patriotism than answers to actual questions. In private conversation, he indicated a willingness to pursue political corruption, but seems a bit out of touch for 2012. . . . . . GRADE-C
Chuck Mattingly Currently, the Assistant District Attorney, having prosecuted several high profile cases. Mattingly has tried to distance himself from the non-performing Villalobos, although he does not privately criticize him. He has prosecuted several high profile cases. At the forums, he lists some of those cases and the sentence received in very dramatic fashion. He is capable of effective prosecution with eye contact and power. . . . . GRADE A
Maria Urbina DeFord DeFord also works as an Assistant District Attorney, having prosecuted several cases. She is the product of a valley migrant farm family, has served stints in both the Army and Navy. She is tough-minded, well-spoken and states without equivocation that she will prosecute political corruption. She has an earnest, sometime rapidfire speaking style. She is capable of effective prosecution. . GRADE-A
It's obvious I favor the two younger, more current candidates currently serving as Assistant District Attorneys. Going forward, they give us the best option of getting a handle on political and other corruption and crime in our community. No one takes political heat for prosecuting a child killer or Zeta, but these two seem committed to doing what's right and letting the chips fall where they may. They also seem to have the requisite skill set to win cases.
I am amazed that Luis Saenz is willing to re-open the problems that existed in his office. Is he really willing to trash...or throw under the bus....people who have been loyal to him despite his fondness for women who are not his wife. Saenz is a slug...loyal only to his own interests.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, the public here doesn't care if the candidate has a low grade....tends to endear them to the public. We don't just accept corruption.....we demand it.
ReplyDeleteGrading candidates is very simplistic. I expect to receive some criticism on that, but even as an older person, I would rather take a chance on young, sharp young people than retreading mediocre past performers.
DeleteJim
Dittos Jim we need fresh blood and HONESTY my vote will go to Mattingly.
Deletei would have graded garza higher. the whole corporal punishment thing impressed me.
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ReplyDeleteGus has a good PAC going right now, with many Democrats switching to voting in the Republican Primary to make sure that he is the GOP nominee. I think that it will be a good fight between Gus and one of the younger Assistant DA's. In the mean time Calabaza rules, and all of the ratas are grabbing whatever they can before the November elections come and real change with it.
ReplyDelete(Gus has a good PAC going right now, with many Democrats switching to voting in the Republican Primary to make sure that he is the GOP nominee.)
ReplyDeleteLOL that would never happen. Democrats don't vote Republican. DA isn't an important race to them. There are too many Democrat races to worry about the spanking judge. Chuck is going to win the GOP nominations hands down.
Garza is one of those guys who's party allegence is related to what party they think will vote for them. And don't forget that he accepted an appointment to investigate a political enemy who had defeated him in Willacy County. In my opinion that shows bad judgement. Also, it's kind of funny that when he could not get elected to ANYTHING in Cameron County he moved to Willacy County to try to get elected there. And now he's come back to us. Did he burn his bridges in Willacy County?
ReplyDeleteMescalero
"Chuck is going to win"
ReplyDeleteHow do you know that?? Do you know something we don't, or are you his campaign MGR.?
Hope Maria beats every one!
ReplyDeleteMr. Barton, there is a big difference between your two fave candidates. Ms. DeFord has resigned her position as an Assistant D.A. in order to campaign for D.A., and works now only as a Special Prosecutor on a limited contract basis. Mr. Mattingly, on the other hand, is still drawing his 6-figure salary while he campaigns full time. Don't believe me? Check out the County payroll records. Mr. Mattingly has been removed from his postion as First Assistant D.A. and has had almost all of his cases reassigned to other A.D.A.'s so that he can campaign full time, but amazingly he still continues to draw his same salary and he remains the highest paid A.D.A. in the office. I suspect that he has neglected to mention this fact at any of the forums.
ReplyDeleteWAN'T MATINGLY THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN THE LIVINGSTONG FIASCO??
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting how everyone is quick to criticize the settlement on the lawsuit with Dannenbaum but only one person has actually asked me directly why we (the board) settled with Dannenbaum. Jim, it was not you that asked me. I would of gladly discussed with you why we chose to settle the suit. Instead you give me an "F" for that without knowing all of the facts regarding the case.
ReplyDeleteYou gave an "A" to Chuck even after he let a convicted killer (Amit Livingston) take a walk without objecting on the record. He managed to let a woman who killed her husband in cold blood walk on probation. And don't forget the black list that he enforced. You know the list that singled out certain defense attorney for no deals/no plea bargains/no discovery because they stood up to the DA's office. Remember they denied the existence of the black list but it was eventually turned over to a federal judge after he ordered them to turn it over.
You also gave Maria De Ford an "A". A prosecutor with 6 years of prosecuting experience. A prosecutor who has failed to prosecute cases involving aggravated assault, sexual assault of a child, whose been taken contributions from the family of a person accused of sexual assault of a child. Whom is being promoted by a district judge for the position of DA in violation of judicial rules of ethics. Whom is also being assisted to raise funds by a high position democratic leader who is supposed to remain neutral.
Jim, I'll be glad to report all of the reasons for the settlement with Dannenbaum. All you need to do is ask. I'm never hid anything regarding the settlement. Contact me and I'll be glad to meet with you to discuss the case. But seriously an "F".
Fair enough. Grading is subjective and certainly subject to change as facts come out. I don't care about political parties but I do hate flushing millions of dollars down a rat hole as with Dennenbaum with zero, nada, zilch to show for it.
DeleteDidn't you also vote with the minority at BND to award a contract to the Escobedo brothers? Deals with the Escobedo brothers always raises a red flag for me.
Jim
Carlos,
DeletePlease correct my thinking on Dennenbaum. Please explain how the best possible settlement was reached in view of the circumstances. Please elaborate on the "black list" if you will. I will gladly publish an article with your added information on these issues.
Thanks, Jim
Thanks for the opportunity Jim. I will gladly get you something in writing listing the reasons for the settlement. Let me add that the meeting with Dannenbaum some folks are talking about was not a meeting with me and him alone. We had our attorneys and they had their attorneys. At no time were we alone with him. He wanted us to hear what we had to say regarding the project. Apparently, they were under the mistaken belief that they could still get the project going on the Mexican side. We then went to a mediation where we settled with them for the reasons that I will elaborate on separately.
DeleteRegarding the contract with the Escobedos, I was not aware they owned the company. I do know that one of the Escobedos owns a security company named "American Security and Surveillance." The name of the company on the agenda was Valley American Contractors. Neither the agenda nor the backup to our agenda indicated that they were the owners. The company was the only bidder. Based on the information that was presented, if we didnt secure this generator now that it would cost us about 40% more if we waited to get a 2012 version which are not currently available. This generator would not have only been capable of meeting our power needs for the administrative building but also for the adjacent building. Furthermore, it was part of our security grant and the Port was putting in a matching contribution of 25%. Those were my reasons for voting for it. Not because it was the Escobedos company.
Regarding the "black list", it goes back to the Villalobos lawsuit. The one he filed against the County in order to force the commissioners court to use his office as counsel. A group of criminal defense attorneys intervened in the suit. Apparently, they were not happy with some issues regarding the appointment and/or compensation of defense attorneys in criminal cases. Villalobos was not happy with action and apparently someone in the office put a list together of the attorneys that were part of this group. The list was passed around the office and was not supposed to exist. If you were an attorney on the list you basically could not look at any criminal file even though the DA had an open file policy. Instead you would have to file a motion with the court requesting access. Only then would they open the file. Even then, you would not receive a plea agreement. You had to try the case or have your client plead cold (without an agreement) to the court. The existence of the "black list" was denied but eventually was turned over after the federal judge ordered Villalobos to turn it over. Both Chuck and Mattingly as supervisors helped enforce the "black list."
Carlos,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your response. Whatever you send me I will make into an article giving your side of the Dannenbaum settlement. Did you mean to say "Both Chuck and Mattingly as supervisors helped enforce the "black list"? Or was it DeFord and Mattingly? Or Villalobos and Mattingly? Please clarify. Once an article is published stating your recollection of events, I will invite Mattingly and/or DeFord to respond, especially in reference to the "black" list and the Livington case.
Thanks, Jim
Sorry...I meant DeFord and Mattingly.
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