AS THE DUST CLEARS, BROWNSVILLE SEEMS BETTER OFF!

Trey Mendez Plots Strategy Behind Ruben O'Bell Selfie

Huddled into a back building of his Saint Charles Street law firm as his victory party wound down, Trey Mendez thanked his team.  I snuck in to see what was going on.

"They say I can be hard to work for," Mendez offered, getting no pushback from #teamtrey.  

Then, with a wry smile, Mendez added:  "This feels fuckin' good!"

Of course, despite getting 41% of the vote in a three man race, there will be no let up as the Mendez team can't take the hardworking Charlie Cabler lightly.

Trey nodded in agreement earlier that evening when I suggested Cabler had worked his ass off, then added "oh, absolutely!," when I suggested that his wife Rosie Cabler was a big factor in those efforts.

"Rosie is just amazing!" Mendez added.

Inside the back building meeting with the team, TSC Trustee Ruben Herrera caught me off guard with "could we have a few words from Jim?"

I awkwardly mumbled something about Trey not being the most charismatic of candidates, but honest, straightforward, levelheaded. . . Yeah, faint praise, I know.

Actually, I was still thinking about an earlier conversation with someone on Trey's team where we both agreed that Mendez is a pragmatic planner, someone who can carefully execute stategy, never a glad-hander, not morphing into Bean Ayala anytime soon.

Mendez will follow the game plan and likely be Brownsville's next mayor.  

Although I'm happy for Trey, I feel better about the city's future.  

Tony Martinez offered his concession to Mendez and Cabler:

Carla and I want to say thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for the honor of serving Brownsville for these past eight years. We appreciate, more than you know, all those who joined us in this effort, devoting their time and talents, to move Brownsville Forward! I also thank all those who put their names on the ballot for the May 4 election, win or lose, for the sacrifices and time they devoted to our city. And I extend my congratulations to both Trey Mendez and Charlie Cabler, promising my support to ensure a smooth transition to our next Mayor, ready to put the interests of Brownsville first.

— Un abrazo fuerte, Tony and Carla