From the editor: With the exposure of his racist remarks, City Commissioner Cesar de Leon has so much on the line, including a considerable investment of time, care, not to mention money, from his very supportive parents and years of study and mentoring.
Part I of our series deals with what was involved in young Cesar's development at the time he presented himself as 28 year old candidate for City Commissioner:
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| Cesar de Leon Flanked by Parents at "Taste of La Frontera" Event, 2015 |
It's as if young Cesar de Leon were placed in a 28-year incubator that would produce the quintessential bicultural leader for Brownsville and the valley. His father, an electrical engineer in Matamoros, along with his mother a 2nd grade teacher with now 32 years tenure at BISD, nurtured, guided, molded, pushed their offspring into a position to succeed with no false steps or wrong moves.
With the family having connections to both Brownsville and Matamoros, the U.S. and Mexico, the parents pondered over where young Cesar should receive his primary education. Cesar's father wanted to insure his son would not lose his Mexican culture and Spanish language, while Cesar's mom wanted to make certain their son was totally proficient in English.
Cesar's mom presented a plan to BISD, allowing students to attend BISD in the morning and go to school in Matamoros in the afternoon. Cesar and "3 or 4 other kids" signed up, but Cesar was the only student who stayed with it through high school.
"It was hard to go to Matamoros every Saturday for school, but it gave me good insight into both cultures," stated Cesar in an interview.
Cesar graduated from St. Joseph's Academy in Brownsville, then did his undergraduate work at St. Mary's University in San Antonio, where he was student body president. Following his dad's suggestion, Cesar than spent 7 months at a St. Mary's affiliate in Spain, doing college work for the first time in Spanish.
The next few years included 2 years work for a state representative, clerking for Judge Berry and a chance meeting with then Governor Rick Perry.
"Governor Perry told me the one thing he regretted was not going to law school. He suggested that, whatever I do, I go to some law school, not necessarily Austin," explained Cesar.
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| Attorney Albert Kaufman, |
Kaufman put Cesar to work interning for civil rights issues such as voting rights, "No Child Left Behind," affirmative action, and public schools' student assignment systems.
"It was challenging to do this outside work while still keeping up with my classes," according to Cesar.
In the fall of 2014 showed up back in Brownsville after being gone ten years. He had a law degree, although very little experience actually trying cases, and considerable political experience.
Our next segment will deal with Cesar de Leon's campaign and election as city commissioner, some understanding(not approval) of his anger expressed at ADA's who happened to be black, what he can do to mitigate the damage of his remarks if he so chooses.
We will also consider other improprieties exposed by the released audio tape conversations.
Sec. 36.02. BRIBERY. (a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly offers, confers, or agrees to confer on another, or solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept from another:
ReplyDelete(1) any benefit as consideration for the recipient's decision, opinion, recommendation, vote, or other exercise of discretion as a public servant, party official, or voter;
(2) any benefit as consideration for the recipient's decision, vote, recommendation, or other exercise of official discretion in a judicial or administrative proceeding;
(3) any benefit as consideration for a violation of a duty imposed by aw on a public servant or party official; or
(b) It is no defense to prosecution under this section that a person whom the actor sought to influence was not qualified to act in the desired way whether because he had not yet assumed office or he lacked jurisdiction or for any other reason.
(c) It is no defense to prosecution under this section that the benefit is not offered or conferred or that the benefit is not solicited or accepted until after:
(1) the decision, opinion, recommendation, vote, or other exercise of discretion has occurred; or
(2) the public servant ceases to be a public servant.
(d) It is an exception to the application of Subdivisions (1), (2), and (3) of Subsection (a) that the benefit is a political contribution as defined by Title 15, Election Code, or an expenditure made and reported in accordance with Chapter 305, Government Code.
(e) An offense under this section is a felony of the second degree.
Sec. 36.03. COERCION OF PUBLIC SERVANT OR VOTER. (a) A person commits an offense if by means of coercion he:
(1) influences or attempts to influence a public servant in a specific exercise of his official power or a specific performance of his official duty or influences or attempts to influence a public servant to violate the public servant's known legal duty; or
(2) influences or attempts to influence a voter not to vote or to vote in a particular manner.
(b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor unless the coercion is a threat to commit a felony, in which event it is a felony of the third degree.
Sec. 36.04. IMPROPER INFLUENCE. (a) A person commits an offense if he privately addresses a representation, entreaty, argument, or other communication to any public servant who exercises or will exercise official discretion in an adjudicatory proceeding with an intent to influence the outcome of the proceeding on the basis of considerations other than those authorized by law.
(b) For purposes of this section, "adjudicatory proceeding" means any proceeding before a court or any other agency of government in which the legal rights, powers, duties, or privileges of specified parties are determined.
(c) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
All that for naught. Pendejo
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