DOES IT REALLY MATTER WHO IS MAYOR OF BROWNSVILLE? WE THINK SO!

Trey Mendez

"But, the mayor has only one vote and that only happens in the case of a tie!" we sometimes hear in an effort to minimize the importance of the mayoral vote in the City of Brownsville election.

That view of things, that it really doesn't matter who's mayor, ignores the last 8 years with Mayor Martinez chairing the Metropolitan Planning Organization, but also sitting on the Public Utilities Board during a huge rate increase for a never-built power plant, while steering, coercing the commission into purchasing a dozen or so third tier buildings at inflated prices, pandering to former UTB President Juliet Garcia's flawed vision.

And, please don't forget Tony's unilateral spending of the Texas AEP refund, using up $400,000 of the $3,060,000 settlement on pet projects before being caught by the commission.

Inexcusably, Martinez has never offered one word in explanation for any of the above, simply smiling and acting befuddled at any question that reaches for those answers.

Charlie Cabler

Of the two alternatives to Tony Martinez, former City Manager Charlie Cabler has been right square in the middle of every Martinez move the last eight years, enabling, coddling, yessireeing, which explains an almost chumminess between the two at campaign forums.

Yes, Charlie is a nice guy, homey, self-deprecating, dutiful, but don't expect him to take the city in a different direction!

That leaves Trey Mendez, not exactly a Beto, but a quiet guy, who studies the problem and reaches a calculation.  Yes, with Trey on the board, TSC has lowered tuition, granted raises to faculty, administrators and employees while reaching record enrollment.(No, we're not ignoring the $13 million award to former TSC President Lily Tercero.  Factor that in as you will.)

Also worthy of mention is that Mendez did stand up for our community during the UTB/TSC "separation," protecting our tax-and-tuition funded investments, has long been a leader in historical preservation and, unlike many, many before him, was able to execute a successful business plan for an establishment downtown.

With our current, true state of the city in mind, selecting Trey Mendez as mayor is the only viable option.