Working Class Hero Facing Uphill Battle Against the Establishment in City Commission Race

Robert Uresti

As John Lennon said all those years ago:  "A working class hero is something to be."  We identified four Brownsvillians as such in a Mean Mister Brownsville story August 30, 2011, which described the outspokenness and persistence of Fernando Ruiz, Dagoberto Barrera, Robert Uresti and Letty Perez-Garzoria in appearing again and again during public comment with sharp words, suggestions and ideas for city leaders.  Two of the four, Robert Uresti and Letty Perez-Garzoria are running this year for city commissioner.

We later backtracked on that designation for Dagoberto Barrera, when he made an unspeakably racist public statement during a public hearing on the border wall describing Mexican Nationals as "not of our culture. They eat with their fingers, their heads bobbing up and down to the table like ducks".  Interesting indeed that someone of almost identical ancestry would ignorantly feel that a slow-moving river could could affect such a difference!

There are a number of stories in the Mean Mister Brownsville archives about Robert Uresti, the wiry Viet Nam vet with the "take charge" attitude.  Unassuming and humble in person, Uresti seems to be at his best in an emergency.

An April 9, 2013 story quoted one of Uresti's neighbors:  "Oh, he's a great guy," Ramiro started. "He's always doing things for the community. A couple of years ago our streets were all torn up. The city was building two small dams to control flooding, but after the dams were finished, the city did not release the dams on time. A lot of our houses were flooded. Robert walked the neighborhood, taking pictures of all the damage and went to the city with it. He got the city to pay for the repairs to our homes."

When Alex Torres, a candidate for State Representative, District 38 was accosted by Harlingen lawyer Ron Lozano at a Brownsville Cheezmeh candidate forum, Uresti quickly intervened.  Torres was quoted in our March 13, 2012 story:  "Exactly. This guy got into my face about capital punishment and some other things. He invaded my personal space. I mean I don't allow people to get jaw to jaw with me. So I asked Erasmo and anyone to get this guy off of me. . . . . Yes, Ron Lozano. He's what I call a conspiracy theorist. He always wears a ball cap and sort of a military coat. He's done something similar at City Commission meetings in Harlingen. . . . Yes, he did. He kept trying to start something. Then, Robert Uresti joined us. He told the guy to get out of here or he'd call the police. Some people wanted me to file a police report, but there's no need. He finally left."

Another incident where Uresti intervened on behalf of Commissioner Jessica Tetreau-Kalifa was detailed in MMB:  "Actually, Uresti stepped in to prevent bodily harm in an incident at the City Commission building a couple of months ago. A group of citizens had just attended a commission meeting where they spoke out against a recycling center promoted by realtor Dutch Fisher being built in their neighborhood. According to reports, after the meeting some shouted exchanges occurred between a proponent of the salvage yard and the citizens. It was alleged that Commissioner Jessica Tetreau was pushed during the altercation. A bystander reported that Robert Uresti intervened on behalf of the commissioner and police were called."

It's an understatement to describe Uresti as a different sort of candidate for political office.  He is neither slick nor smooth, an unpolished speaker.  He appears awkward in a business suit, usually wearing a t-shirt and ball cap, but he works tirelessly for Brownsville already without yet holding office.  What a concept!

Robert Uresti faces heavily favored incumbent Rose Gowen in the election for City Commissioner, At-Large B.