"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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