THE REAL REASON MAYOR TREY MENDEZ CHOSE NOT TO SEEK RE-ELECTION

 

Mayor Juan "Trey" Mendez

On November 23, 2022 Mayor Juan "Trey" Mendez announced via Facebook that he would NOT be seeking another term as mayor.

Trey gave the following as his reason for leaving the mayor's office after a single term:

“I realize that the past three and a half years have taken a heavy toll on my physical, mental and financial health that few can relate to, . . . . . I believe that we have successfully managed a multitude of catastrophic and unforeseen events over the past 36 months that required our absolute attention, but it wasn’t easy.”

While it's understandable Trey felt some burnout and the pandemic was difficult to navigate, his decision to not seek re-election was more likely based on the fact that he was caught with his hands in the city's cookie jar, seeking $200,000 in 4B funds from BCIC to restore and remodel the downtown Coca-Cola building, a building he'd purchased from a local resident for cash and back taxes.

The BCIC funds, were intended for citizens to refurbish their properties, yet Mayor Mendez and city administrator Ramiro Gonzalez were first in line for the handout, along with Abel Limas' son Michael Limas whose firm manages the city's retirement funds.

Former City Planner Ramiro Gonzalez

Gonzalez was actually terminated from his $82000 gig as a glorified city planner for his role in the unethical, if not illegal, scheme.

While it would have been honorable for Mayor Mendez, just as guilty as Gonzalez, to have resigned, he, along with Michael Limas, and Limas simply withdrew his monetary request.  

For heaven's sakes, the WHOLE point of 4B or "quality of life" funds is that such economic development funding would be separate from politics, not for mayors and city administrators with sticky fingers.

Trey's sidekick Gonzalez had long been using his role as a planner to scour the city for inexpensive lots to purchase.

In 2014, while working as City Planner,  Gonzalez discovered a plot with no apparent owner that bordered Central and Lakeside Boulevards, prime city real estate directly across from the Valley Baptist Medical Center. 

The Brownsville City Commission not only allowed Gonzalez to purchase the unclaimed city tract for a mere $7,000, but gave him two adjacent plots free as in "buy one, get two free."  Such reckless, inexcusable handling of city assets!

My point is, that had Trey Mendez sought re-election, he would have been hounded by questions about his blatant attempt to use BCIC funds for his own personal enrichment, especially grievous, since, as mayor, he'd not only been involved in appointing members and staff to the BCIC, but in setting guidelines for the program.

Gonzalez was terminated, but the mayor, as an elected official, had to option to resign.  

For the mayor to be "first in line" to receive the funding was beyond unethical and certified that Mendez was unfit to serve our city as mayor.

So, now you have the real reason Mendez chose not to seek re-election.