(Ed.'s Note: This morning those Brownsville Independent School District staffers and administrative personnel who work at the Brownsville Academic Center (BAC) were treated to donuts and coffee by BISD trustees Joe Rodriguez and Carlos Elizondo.
Some questioned the propriety of two incumbents of the board giving donuts and coffee to district employees who make up part of the electorate in this year's board elections. Since both are still on the board, their generosity is suspect. There are three days left for early voting which ends Friday. The election is next Tuesday. What do you think they are hoping to get in return for their generosity? This is not the first time that Rodriguez has skirted the law. Just last week he was seen soliciting "support" from people entering the back door of the Central Library well within the restricted area where candidates cannot campaign. With his trusty walker in hand, he greeted voters with a smile. When the election judge was notified he was electioneering, she sent a election worker and shooed him away, but not before Rodriguez had buttonholed a few people entering the voting area. Rodriguez is facing challenges from Prisci Roca-Tipton, Randy Gonzales, and Jorge ValdezWe won't even enumerate Elizondo's troubles with the law. We just don't have the space here. He faces Erasmo Castro and former BISD trustee Otis Powers.
The pushing of once's candidacy would seem to fall under the prohibition of local school board policy (GKB Local: Title: Community relations, Subtitle: Advertising and fundraising) against political advertising.
BISD local policy prohibits any activity if "the advertisement is political, including advertising for or against political candidates, or for or against political propositions and/or referendums."
According to the district's website, the BAC is "an alternative education school serving middle school and high school students in the Brownsville Independent School District...At BAC, we are dedicated to providing a positive learning environment which incorporates the BAC Respect Model as a daily guide to help reinforce the values of respect and self-discipline.
The BAC's primary goal is to serve students' academic needs in an environment which stresses the importance of self-discipline and respect. Students who are referred to BAC for either a 30 or 45-day placement. It is left up to principal Hector Hernandez and the BISD administration to follow the policy at his school campus.
But maybe Rodriguez and Elizondo need a refresher course on ethics and local district policy. Should they be referred to the BAC for 30 or 45 days?)