El Paso Democratic Party Politics & the Texas Democratic Convention: The Alonzo Factor or Non-factor

"Dos Pajaritos Cantando (pio pio pio)":  In the political rumor mill the whisper campaign is that County Judge Veronica Escobar and State Representative Marisa Marquez are secretly recruiting and hauling voters on a plane and land rovers to the Texas Democratic Convention to oust local political operatives from the camp of former State Representative Paul Moreno (interesting, rumor I heard not once but twice and on air today on BORDER TALK). 

State Representative Robert Alonzo is a strong and experienced Democratic Party Latino Organizer in the Hispanic Caucus and is rumored to be helping with the underground operation (allegedly).  He and Dr. Jose Angel Gutierrez (a primary founder of La Raza Unida Party) are credited with orchestrating necessary votes to take over the Texas Mexican American Democrats (MAD) causing the now famous and historical split that resulted in the formation of the Tejano Democrats.  I was at that historic convention and witnessed the vote and the walk-out by legends in Texas Latino politics led by former State Senator Gonzalo Barrientos. 

Rep. Alonzo worked with me (like Michelle Obama says it) and former County Commissioner Carlos Aguilar III to set up a local chapter of MAD, Camino Real Mexican American Democrats when I sent  Rick Armendariz of the infamous Forma Group to a convention to file the necessary paperwork to form the organization.  Armendariz is said to be going to vote (I don’t think that it is likely for a campaign consultant to do this but he owes Marquez). The organization was formally dissolved last year. This ousting strategy is not new but something I participated in when I recruited Norma Fisher Flores at a motorcycle run to run against the incumbent DNC Hispanic female Blanche Darley.  I asked her if she knew who Blanche was, to which she replied “no” and that act and her victory added to the feud between Blanche and I (bad Norma, and I use to wonder why she was so helpful to my opponent(s)). Fisher Flores was elected by the Hispanic Caucus in a bitter contested race that Darley challenged and took to the DNC at the national DNC Convention.  I asked for strategy assistance from Rep. Alonzo who represented Fisher at the challenge. Fisher Flores won the challenge and served as the DNC Hispanic female until 2008.  

Alonzo is an experienced Party and convention strategist. His involvement or non-involvement will have consequences either way.  

Robert Grijalva has announced his candidacy for State Democratic Executive Committee (SDEC) Male for Senate District 29. He will be challenging local attorney and President of the Black El Paso Democrats Don Williams in what is being talked about as an attempt to take out Williams, who was a newbie to Democratic Party politics until 2008. Grijalva is the Chief of Staff of State Representative Chente Quintanilla and was Chief of Staff of former State Representative Paul Moreno and an experienced political operative.  “Los dos pajaritos cantantando” sing that Williams has brokered a deal with the Veronicuns (quien sabe)? Grijalva is definitely not the Veronicun candidate.

Yolanda Clay, the niece of former State Representative Paul Moreno and SDEC Committee Woman, is said to be “undecided” if she will run as she and incoming El Paso Democratic Party Chair Rick Melendrez and her don’t see eye to eye. Local attorney Becky Robledo is said to be interested in running for the position which will make for a 3 woman race and means one of the candidates will have enough votes to cut a deal to crown the winner. The Veronicun candidate is unknown but “dos pajaritos” are singing the candidate is Carmen Rodriguez, the wife of Senator Jose Rodriguez. It is interesting that the information of a Veronicun running was raised on BORDER TALK  radio earlier today by C Leroy Cavazos, a listener from Mission, Texas, who called in about his candidacy for SDEC Committeeman in the Person with Disabilities Caucus. Rumors heard that far away have to have some grain of truth to them don’t you think?  Best of luck and shout out to C Leroy Cavazos!!  Si Se Puede!!

The elected leaders for SDEC Committeeman and Committeewoman work hand in hand with the Democratic Party Chair on Democratic Party issues. Rep. Alonzo’s involvement or participation is not confirmed….and this just might be “dos pajaritos cantando”……

Facebook rants and postings indicate a run on the current El Paso Party leadership.  Houston, Texas is further away from El Paso than the Capitol of New Mexico and Phoenix Arizona, but the Moreno faction has always been successful in hauling Delegates and Alternates to conventions in years past.  Political organization attending include the El Paso Young Democrats, the El Paso Young Stonewalls, Paso Del Norte Tejano Democrats, elected officials and independents.

I will be attending the convention in a new role as a former elected, a talk radio host and producer of BORDER TALK, calling in from the floor of the convention and blogging the intimate details as I witness events unroll in Houston, Texas at the Texas Democratic Convention…..stay tuned……..it is going to be interesting!

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