By Juan Montoya
Listening to the talk around the local water holes and the gossip around City Hall and social media, you'd think everyone and their brother were running for the mayor's and three city seats that are up for the City of Brownsville Commission.
But with just about a month to go before the January 16 filing deadline, there are only four appointments of campaign treasurer on file over at the City Secretary's office.
Two are for the position held by District 1 incumbent Ricardo Longoria. So far, only one challenger, Brownsville Public Utility Board member Nurith Galonsky, listed her treasurer. Longoria is acting as his own and Galonsky has listed Jacklyn Verdin.
Longoria has vacillated between running and not running, a singular characteristic he has shown throughout his political career. Now he will, then he won't. Today he is. Check with us tomorrow.
John Cowen has filed for the At-Large A position now being held by incumbent Cesar de Leon who says he will not run. Cowen has Javier Vera, one of his employees at his brokerage firm at the Port of Brownsville, as his treasurer. If you recall, Vera ran unsuccessfully for the post commission last time around. De Leon has told his friends he won't seek reelection.
And while many names are being bandied about for mayor, only one, former city manager Charlie Cabler, is on file with a treasurer. His treasurer is Pankaj (PK) Patel. In interviews and social media, incumbent Tony Martinez has said he will run, as has Texas Southmost College trustee Juan "Trey" Mendez. We'll see.
Both Martinez and Mendez already have treasurers from their run at their respective positions, so they might not need to file with the city. Do others fall into that category?
District 2 incumbent Jessica Tetreau is also up for reelection, but has been coy about announcing whether she will seek reelection or throw her bonnet in the mayor's race. She might alse have a treasurer on file already as could former mayor Pat Ahumada, William Garza, and (No, please, God, no!) former city and county commissioner Ernie Hernandez.
But until the other aspirants to the City Commission Hot Seats file their treasurer appointment documents, the talk about this or the other candidacy remains that, just talk.