EL RRUN RRUN
http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/
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HOPE THEY FORGOT: THE RUBEN CORTEZ STATE SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDACY VS. CELESTE ZEPEDA-SANCHEZ
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By <strong>Juan Montoya</strong><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFd6S9PbFCPpqLjURP19mNpR0R99dW-gZcVsHrwfFsR-fdxOINd3PjqzSiq9AqJhp3KdQzgfRK-15S-ZWPAr4Rc2Mb6p0XI5GC_z63z3-frP2yJ1-L5R8SFTrjRvb7Xhu4Lp44XUahoc/s1600/celeste250x375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFd6S9PbFCPpqLjURP19mNpR0R99dW-gZcVsHrwfFsR-fdxOINd3PjqzSiq9AqJhp3KdQzgfRK-15S-ZWPAr4Rc2Mb6p0XI5GC_z63z3-frP2yJ1-L5R8SFTrjRvb7Xhu4Lp44XUahoc/s200/celeste250x375.jpg" width="133" /></a>Here's a sad litany on former Brownsville Independent School District trustee Ruben Cortez's record in "Keeping Politics out of the Classroom: </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Cortez, who has a H.S. diploma (GED?) wants to be one of 15 new members to the Texas School Board of Education and is running against Celeste Zepeda Sanchez, who has a Bachelor's and Master's degree and has been an educator for 45 years. She is also a current member of the San Benito City Commission.<br />With early voting starting on Monday, please don't forget what Cortez accomplished as a BISD trustee.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">From the current lawsuit in state court by former Superintendent Hector Gonzales:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /><strong>TRYING TO RIG INSURANCE CONTRACTS TOWARD HIS PAL JOHNNY CAVAZOS;</strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">â€" February 2007: (Ruben) Cortez visited Gonzales and told him he did not want insurance provider Healthsmart as the new insurance carrier for the district. He told Gonzales that he and the other (co-conspirators) wanted Mutual of Omaha, or any other firm in which Johnny Cavazos would be the agent. Gonzales said he would not participate in this conspiracy.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">â€" March 2007: Cortez approached Gonzales again on the same issue and insisted that Gonzales only recommend one of Cavazos' insurance firms for the upcoming insurance contract. Again, Gonzales refused to join the conspiracy.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">â€" Dec. 2007 to February 2008: (Rolando) Aguilar Cortez, and (Joe) Colunga met with Gonzales to discuss their "concerns" regarding the upcoming health insurance contract. They made it clear that they did not want Healthsmart, but one of Cavazos' companies.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">â€" Sept. 16, 2008: CFO Antonio Juarez recommended AAG/Berkley for the Stop-Loss Insurance contract which was not adopted by the board at that meeting. Afterwards, Cortez visited Gonzales in his office and told him he did not like the recommendation and didn't like "being lied to." Gonzales said he would have Tony Resendez, counsel with Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Brown and Schultze to look into the matter. Resendez recommended the matter be handled administratively with a warning to Juarez that perhaps he did "not communicate effectively" to the board.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">â€" Oct. 21: Cortez requested a consent item on the agenda related to "apparent misinformation" directed toward board members on insurance contract. Another "superintendent evaluation" was placed on agenda but no action was taken. Aguilar. Cortez, and Colunga all met with Gonzales separately after the meeting regarding Juarez. Each conveyed to Gonzales that they wanted him to fire Juarez for "lying" to them regarding the Stop-Loss insurance contract they wanted to go to Cavazos. They all wanted Gonzales to fire him and then give a recommendation to Cavazo's company.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">When Gonzales didn't fire Juarez, but instead reassigned him to a grant administrator position, Cortez's reaction was immediate.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">â€" Upon discovering the reassignment, trustees Aguilar, and Cortez went to Gonzales' office outraged. They both screamed "Why didn't you fire Tony? Why didn't you just terminate him?"</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>SUBVERTING THE BISD'S GRIEVANCE PROCESS TO "GET HIS ENEMIES":</strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">â€" Immediately after the Sept. 23, 2008 board meeting: Gonzales and board members attended CUBE convention in Las Vegas and Cortez approached Gonzales and told him the current board did not extend his contract because they were going to "hold him hostage." He also said his job "was on the line" and that the superintendent needed to "prove that he would do as they directed" and to "start proving himself by firing (former Special Services Director Art) Rendon because that would make Colunga very happy."</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Further, Cortez said there was going to "be a change" and that Gonzales needed to "play ball with his side" or be fired. He also said that once Zayas was elected, they would have the majority vote and that they wanted the current insurance policy cancelled and a new insurance policy to be awarded to Cavazos.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Cortez also told Gonzales they wanted Rendon fired and his contract terminated immediately. Further, Cortez warned that Gonzales "needs to listen to him because they will be in control and all he has to do is do what they tell him to do" because "this was the way Brownsville operated."</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">â€" In the days and months following this episode: The BISD majority and its co-conspirators tried to procure false grievances against Gonzales in a further attempt to discredit, discriminate against, and terminate him.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">â€" Sept. 18, 2009: Because of his refusal to stop and/or silence efforts to uncover and expose illegal and other improper activity of the conspiracy, Gonzales was terminated. He further charges in his petition that the conspirators â€" including Cortez â€" "manipulated and created evidence, coerced and intimidated witnesses, gave false testimony, and falsified records to make it appear that the Special Services Department was in a financial mess and in an organizational shambles. Further, the conspirators controlled, corrupted, and manipulated the entire grievance and appeal procedure such that the outcomes of specific and selected cases at the conspirators' choosing, were pre-determined."</div><br /><strong>SO THIS IS "KEEPING POLITICS OUT OF THE CLASSROOM"</strong><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8o_je53lBAs-LKbNVU-zhXFh5RrgnkspuUemgvoCekwRN4eix-B2Z_72IvQYqG5uXd6mHr1GYCRvWi0KXXqjHZGgeKKerdD79e-UjWJ3wFi2RYFoRPVTmc2zsBfvR6THcKw07cWzltI/s1600/cortez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8o_je53lBAs-LKbNVU-zhXFh5RrgnkspuUemgvoCekwRN4eix-B2Z_72IvQYqG5uXd6mHr1GYCRvWi0KXXqjHZGgeKKerdD79e-UjWJ3wFi2RYFoRPVTmc2zsBfvR6THcKw07cWzltI/s200/cortez.jpg" width="154" /></a>â€" Also May 2008: Cortez went to Gonzales and instructed him to promote his wife to principal of Benavides Elementary. Cortez threatened Gonzales that "if he wanted to remain at BISD as superintendent, he should make it happen. Gonzales said he could not oblige such a request. Cortez responded "we will see what happens." </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Cortez was also in the majority sued by former Special Needs Department Director Art Rendon, who stated in a sworn deposition in his case (Southern District of Texas 1:10-cv-00198) that:</div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">"58. On or about June, 2008, Ruben Cortez, a sitting board member on BISD, contacted Plaintiff directly via telephone. He instructed Plaintiff to hire his sister, Linda Aguilar, for summer school employment as a Special Education teacher.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">59. Plaintiff informed Mr. Cortez that BISD had hiring policies in place and instructed him that the hiring application for the summer of 2008 had already been accepted and processed.</div>60. Cortez sent Plaintiff his sister's application and insisted Plaintiff call her immediately and giver her a job. Plaintiff set up a meeting between Cortez's sister Linda, Ana Lerma, who was a Special Education supervisor, and Dr. Lee Garcia, Assistant Director for Special Services. At the meeting, Ruben Cortez's orders were followed, and Linda Aguilar was given a job for the summer of 2008.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6016803033174468094-1185203131676767704?l=rrunrrun.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2012/07/hope-they-forgot-ruben-cortez-state.html
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PRINCIPALS IN CONSTABLE'S RUNOFF TAKE OFF KID GLOVES
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By <strong>Juan Montoya</strong><br />One of the candidates has gone as far as to take a polygraph test and challenge the other to take one too and answer the same questions he did.<br />The other turned around and interviewed the technician who administered the test to his challenger and got him on tape saying that he knew the other had lied when he took the test.<br />Meanwhile, as an amazed electorate looks on, the runoff contests between incumbent Pete Avila and challenger Abel Gomez spirals violently toward early voting (Monday) and election day (July 31.)<br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimP2lz-jYihU_yF2LxTXnqJaCacvxzEf3I8SiinhgQshLTmU0wh10FcW98oWxVxgN5UdIAWXXUXhPY-t101hpV-zZFS_4y6p1CTW8fAc1Xp0jwljMpY7VvFWcgRqA-Xslt7S6d8g-TnV0/s1600/Pete+sexual+harrasment.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimP2lz-jYihU_yF2LxTXnqJaCacvxzEf3I8SiinhgQshLTmU0wh10FcW98oWxVxgN5UdIAWXXUXhPY-t101hpV-zZFS_4y6p1CTW8fAc1Xp0jwljMpY7VvFWcgRqA-Xslt7S6d8g-TnV0/s400/Pete+sexual+harrasment.jpeg" width="400" /></a>On Sunday, Avila ran a newspaper ad and repeated the same questions he had answered in the polygraph test and again challenged Gomez top take one.</div><em>1."Have you ever extorted money form 8-liner operators?</em><br /><em>2."Has the FBI ever questioned you regarding the Judge Limas case?"</em><br /><em>3."As a constable, have you ever protected any drug dealers?"</em><br /><em>4."Have you ever fixed a DWi case of any bondsman?"</em><br />It didn't take long for Gomez to come back with a challenge of his own. In an ad that has been circulated and is scheduled to appear in the newspapers serving the Pct. 2 Constable's jurisdiction, Gomez takes Avila to task charging that while Avila "has campaigned on his integrity versus that of his opponent," he has "failed to inform the citizens and voters of Pct. 2 that he has been sued for sexually assaulting his former secretary."<br />Gomez said that while Avila has responded that he hired the woman in spite of knowing she had lied on past applications and records, yet he still hired her. What woman," the ad asks, "would want to get exposed to a public scandal."<br />This type of behavior, the ad continues, cost taxpayers money to defend and settle. Stop Abuse Against Women!! Say No To Avila."<br />Meanwhile, unsigned and unattributable mail-outs in blank envelopes have started to appear in some local voters' mailboxes identifying Gomez as "Conrado Chiquito," a reference to convicted former Cameron County Sheriff Conrado Cantu. The card indicates that if you vote for Gomez he will;<br />...continue to take bribes within the DA's office<br />...continue to fix cases with the DA's office<br />...continue to extort money within the DA's office<br />...continue to protect 8-liners within the DA's office<br />...continue to protect drug dealers within the DA's office.<br />But, the card reads, "None of the above has been proven YET."<br />It's been a while since such vigorous campaigning has been witnessed for this relatively low position on the political totem pole. However, if you have read some of the other posts on this blog, the trend seems to be towards a no-hold barred approach to politicking as the last days of the election approach. <br />We doubt that Gomez will take Pete's offer. And we doubt that the sexual harassment case will come to a court before July 31. For now, however, the fireworks have begun and there is no end in sight.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6016803033174468094-8258907649822992312?l=rrunrrun.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2012/07/principals-in-constables-runoff-take.html
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WHERE, OH WHERE, CAN MINERVA PENA BE?
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By <strong>Juan Montoya</strong><br />That's what process servers for a local lawyer's firm is asking nowadays after trying repeatedly to serve Brownsville Independent School District trustee Minerva Peña with the paperwork necessary to have her deposed.<br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQeRYoGusOAFDUd-fmA8RyIvCuMYndSXhAriB2YnOu0bP05VTc_Qgh5v-9k_UhoSnh0CGClisA_WNQxKPvIkqknCv2knOCznY77A1y_v60-Utd1HI540XDrsNrNhyCH6Za3MUzh5LBEy0/s1600/SchoolBoard_MinervaPena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQeRYoGusOAFDUd-fmA8RyIvCuMYndSXhAriB2YnOu0bP05VTc_Qgh5v-9k_UhoSnh0CGClisA_WNQxKPvIkqknCv2knOCznY77A1y_v60-Utd1HI540XDrsNrNhyCH6Za3MUzh5LBEy0/s1600/SchoolBoard_MinervaPena.jpg" /></a>The servers report that the suit involves the federal lawsuit filed against two current and two former BISD trustees who made up the majority when the district's CFO Tony Juarez was terminated after he gave the "wrong" reccommendation on the district's Stop-Loss insurance policy. (You know who: Rick Zayas, Ruben Cortez, Rolando Aguilar and Joe Colunga.)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">After repeatedly trying to serve Peña withe the deposition papers, they are supposedly at the end of their rope and will probably allow the federal court marshal's service to do the job.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Persons close to the case say it is almost unheard of for someone whose claim to fame when she ran for office was that she is a former administrator of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and has been named as an honorary Texas Ranger.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">"If she is a such a big supporter of law enforcement, will it take the U.S. Marshal to serve Minerva?," asked an incredulous patron at a local coffee club. "About the only time they are going to catch her if she's trying to hide from them is when there's a BISD trustee meeting if she's not absent.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We at <em>Rrun-Rrun</em> have had our experiences with the elusive lass. Last time we heard that she might know something about testing-protocol violations by the principal at Pace High School, we called her to task her about it, even promising anonymity so we could at least confirm he incident happened.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Even though we knew she had spoken about it to some of her friends and acquaintances, Peña flat out denied she knew anything about the incident. It wasn't until later â€" after our information request o the BISD was honored â€" that we learned that then incident had indeed occurred and that at least 14 people submitted statements on the matter, including the principal and her assistant.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now, if she didn't really know and she is a trustee who' supposed to be on top of the goings-on at the district, it doesn't speak well of her performance. This just makes matter worse. </div>Somehow, we doubt that U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen will be so understanding and wait until Peña decides to come out of hiding.<br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Come out, Come out, Minerva, wherever you are! </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6016803033174468094-6940664286230623392?l=rrunrrun.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2012/07/where-oh-where-can-minerva-pena-be.html
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