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Driving toward Mexico Boulevard at about 12:50 PM on New Years Day, it occurred to me that the Eddie Garcia event, scheduled for 1:00 PM, where he would sign the paperwork to be tax assessor/collector for the county, might be held in the lobby of the Amigoland Convention Center, not the auditorium itself.
I couldn't have been more wrong as, not only was the auditorium full to capacity, the overflow crowd nearly filled the lobby and all the tables in the auditorium were full.
All of this interest in what is essentially a clerical position? Well, maybe that's understating it as property taxes take a big bite out of the budget for so many families in Cameron County, while the county depends on those funds for its facility to provide services.
As I walked up toward the stage to stand along one wall, a local minister was invoking a greater deity's blessing on Eddie Garcia, calling for him to be "righteous and just." Even as an agnostic, I agree with that invocation and sentiment. (Agnostics and atheists typically are voluntarily moral, even without the threat of everlasting punishment.)
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| Chili Willies Bar & Grill, Arroyo City |
Administering the oath of office to Eddie Garcia was retired Judge Arturo Cisneros Nelson, my neighbor for six years in Arroyo City, although I've never actually met him. Yet, the first pachanga I ever attended was at the Chili Willies Bar & Grill in Arroyo City. Fully expecting to meet Nelson, I was met only by two extra-long coolers, one filled with Miller Lite, the other with Bud Light and a barbacoa plate, but no personal appearance by Art.
Eddie Garcia signed the necessary paperwork, then re-signed one document in "blue" ink to match the first, insuring there would be no hiccups.
While her older brother Eddie was re-signing the document, District Judge Gabby Garcia took the podium to say some nice things about her brother, but, when Eddie returned, he introduced his superior officer in the Brownsville Police Department, former City Manager Charlie Cabler.
Cabler, appearing stress-free and fit, described Eddie Garcia as a police officer; "calm," "able to handle stressful situations with ease and common sense," "looking out for our young people."
"His word is gold," Cabler stated. (While Cabler was speaking, all I could think of is what he told me a couple months ago, sitting next to his super-supportive wife, Rosie: "The best thing about retirement is not seeing your name or likeness in the blogs."
Garcia finished the evening by calling the entire staff of the tax collector/assessor department forward, no, not for a group picture, but to give them first dibs at the food plates. Garcia, who starts the peaceful transference of power tomorrow, already has the staff on his side.
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Puro Porter Cowboy Country "We are all in this together" with Tony Ortiz principal who said "if you think you can do this better, come here and do it" and Eddie Garcia is going to do it. Help him guys, do not hide the stapler from him nor send him to put the American Flag outside.
ReplyDeleteBasically what you are saying Jimmmy Boy, is Eddie was the only candidate there being sworn in and no one else and that is why the place was packed? And Eddie has all the staff in his pocket because he said for them to eat first? So bascially you don't have any of the staff pictures or who was there dying for a cold plate of food. Just because you and Jessica T. Kalifa go for free food, doesn't mean everyone esle is starving like you two. That is by far your stupidiest comment ever. Eddie was not the only one there getting sworn in dumb ass.
ReplyDeleteGarcia finished the evening by calling the entire staff of the tax collector/assessor department forward, no, not for a group picture, but to give them first dibs at the food plates. Garcia, who starts the peaceful transference of power tomorrow, already has the staff on his side
Son, I'll be patient considering your intellectual limitations. Yes there were two events scheduled that day and I reported that the auditorium was packed for the second event. BTW, "stupidiest" is not a word.
DeleteAmazed at how many people show up to witness the swearing in for a basically meaningless and powerless position.
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