𝗩𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗧𝗬 𝗢𝗙 𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦 𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗞 𝗔𝗧 𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗢𝗡 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗬 𝗪𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗡'𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗨𝗠 𝗔𝗧 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖 𝗟𝗜𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗥𝗬~𝗦𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗘𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗟𝗬, 𝗦𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗡𝗢𝗧

 

You kids at BISD or one of the charter schools; Take speech class.  Take debate.  Learn how to speak in front of an audience, commanding and holding their attention.  Learn how to speak clearly, distinctly, articulating your words.  

At least that's what went through my mind today at the Cameron County Women's Candidate Forum at the Brownsville Public Library as we were subjected to candidates who were effective speakers and some who were not.

It appeared that Cameron County Tax Assessor-Collector Tony Yzaguirre had his entire staff in the audience all wearing Tony Y campaign shirts.  Hopefully he's not requiring that anyone working in his office support his campaign as Joe Rivera used to do.  That's old school, but also a violation of civil service law as was smartly pointed out at the forum by Cameron County Sheriff Candidate Ronnie Saenz.

Anyway, Ronnie Saenz can speak in front of an audience.  I can imagine him addressing the entire sheriffs department with a plan of action.

Tony Yzaguirre has zero speaking skills, but he must be a damn fine bean counter as he's held the tax assessor's office for 35 years.

Forum moderator Teresa Saldivar stumbled again and again pulling up audience questions from slips of paper.  Rather than scan the question, get the gist of it and then enumerate it clearly, she started reading each question before she knew where it was headed and ended up with an audience of quizzical faces. 

Joe Elizardi, candidate for Justice of the Peace Precinct 2, Place 1 could speak clearly, but I found myself staring at his 80's Mr. T gold chain.  

Actually, Elizardi made a good case for eliminating the Justice of the Peace position altogether as he stated that, as justice of the peace, he couldn't give a legal opinion because he wasn't a lawyer.  He said he could consult other justices of the peace, but then moderator Saldivar said "you've just compromised your case. How can you represent both parties after giving advice to one?"

Oh well.

Carlos Martinez, a candidate for constable in precinct 2 did about the same for constables, explaining that they were no longer "protecting the court."

"But, Cameron Park is not being patrolled," Martinez continued, but didn't exactly explain what constables would do to stop gunfire there.

Why don't we just save a bunch of money and eliminate constables and justices of the peace?

Sheriff Candidate Ronnie Saenz made a financial responsibility point explaining that the sheriffs department had no need of a boat, ATV or the crews needed to employ them when the Border Patrol had many of the same and were willing to coordinate. 

Tax Assessor-Collector Tony Yzaguirre was able to explain the Homestead Exemption for property tax, but sort of lost me when he tried to take credit for raising that exemption from $40,000 to $100,000.  That was not your doing Tony!

445th District Court Judge Gloria Rincones spoke of her "passion for the court" while speaking passionately, saying she cared not who she pleased or offended, but went by the law and "listened."

Rincones' opponent Attorney John Shergold emphasized his work as an attorney "protecting the rights of women, seeking equal wages, protection from harassment, etc.

Sheriff Candidate Manny Torres and Tax Assessor-Collector Candidate Eddie Garcia were no-shows.