By Juan Montoya
When City of Brownsville District 2 incumbent Jessica Tetreau stated during political forums held by the Republican Club and the Brownsville Police Officers Association that she was a "dedicated" member of the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation who had never missed a meeting some candidates stared in disbelief.
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At-Large "A" candidate John Cowen visibly shook his head and can be seen whispering his disbelief. After all, Cowen had been a member of the GBIC board until the city commission passed an ordinance restricting the number of boards and commissions a person could serve on to only one.
As a former member ho never missed a meeting, he knew the Tetreau statement was not totally true.
Intrigued, one of her challengers sought information from the GBIC staff and found out that Tetreau had missed 10 meetings of the GBIC board in just the past two years, but that at the ones she missed the other members had discussed and voted on items that would soon erupt into controversy.
Among those items on the agendas where Tetreau was absent was the report by Jorgensen Consulting on their search for an executive director, discussion on prospective firms interested in coming to Brownsville and setting up shop creating jobs, discussion of a lawsuit (and possible action) on a lawsuit resulting from the hiring of the new GBIC CEO, and even the swearing in of the new board members.
The most controversial decision by the board that still a major issue was an item on the October 12, 2018 where the board was to take possible action on the 200 acres owned by the Community Development Corporation of Brownsville adjacent to BGIC's planned industrial corridor. Tetreau skipped out on that meeting.
"The ones she missed always seemed to be meetings where controversial items were discussed and voted on that were controversial," said challenger Catalina Presas-Garcia. "That's dedication and commitment?" Preas-Garcia and former mayor Pat Ahumada are challenging Tetreau for District 2.
According to GBIC attendance records of the last two years, Tetreau missed on the following dates and was late or left early on others. They were:
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But now, while on the campaign for the At-Large "A" seat on the city commission, it appears he has also made a few slips.
When City of Brownsville District 2 incumbent Jessica Tetreau stated during political forums held by the Republican Club and the Brownsville Police Officers Association that she was a "dedicated" member of the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation who had never missed a meeting some candidates stared in disbelief.
At-Large "A" candidate John Cowen visibly shook his head and can be seen whispering his disbelief. After all, Cowen had been a member of the GBIC board until the city commission passed an ordinance restricting the number of boards and commissions a person could serve on to only one.
As a former member ho never missed a meeting, he knew the Tetreau statement was not totally true.
Intrigued, one of her challengers sought information from the GBIC staff and found out that Tetreau had missed 10 meetings of the GBIC board in just the past two years, but that at the ones she missed the other members had discussed and voted on items that would soon erupt into controversy.
Among those items on the agendas where Tetreau was absent was the report by Jorgensen Consulting on their search for an executive director, discussion on prospective firms interested in coming to Brownsville and setting up shop creating jobs, discussion of a lawsuit (and possible action) on a lawsuit resulting from the hiring of the new GBIC CEO, and even the swearing in of the new board members.
The most controversial decision by the board that still a major issue was an item on the October 12, 2018 where the board was to take possible action on the 200 acres owned by the Community Development Corporation of Brownsville adjacent to BGIC's planned industrial corridor. Tetreau skipped out on that meeting.
"The ones she missed always seemed to be meetings where controversial items were discussed and voted on that were controversial," said challenger Catalina Presas-Garcia. "That's dedication and commitment?" Preas-Garcia and former mayor Pat Ahumada are challenging Tetreau for District 2.
According to GBIC attendance records of the last two years, Tetreau missed on the following dates and was late or left early on others. They were:
09-07-2017 (left early)
11-29-2017 (absence)
01-31-2018 (absence)
02-01-2018 (absence)
03-01-2018 (was late)
04-04-2018 (absence)
04-19-2018 (absence)
05-03-2018 (absence)
08-16-2018 (absence)
09-20-2018 (absence)
10-12-2018 (absence)
01-03-2019 (absence)
GBIC's link to other city commissioner candidates also include the fact that it was District 1 candidate Nurith Galonski who sued GBIC when she was a member of that board over the hiring of Mario Lozoya for CEO. After a court hearing where a judge denied Galonski a TRO, she non-suited. Like Gowen, she was also forced off the board by the new one-board city ordinance passed by the city commission on October 16, 2018.
She missed only four meetings during in the two-year period.
Cowen had a perfect attendance record until he left the GBIC.
But now, while on the campaign for the At-Large "A" seat on the city commission, it appears he has also made a few slips. He posted a social media entry where he complained that the GBIC staff and its director had not returned numerous calla and had refused to meet with him when he had a prospective client lined up to come to Brownsville with jobs.
A check with the GBIC shows that telephone and meeting logs indicate that the GBIC staff and director Lozoya did speak with Cowen and held at least two meetings at his request.
GBIC seems to be at the center of the political storm, something Lozoya takes extra care to avoid.
With the CDCB and GBIC at loggerheads over the 200 acres, and the bad blood over Lozoya's selection as CEO still fresh, candidates' association with it has become the lightning rod (among many) in the current political campaign for the city commission.
The current members of the GBIC are Tetreau, Esteban Guerra ( chair), commissioner Ricardo Longoria, and Pedro Cardenas. Former board member resigned February 19, 2019 and his replacement has not been appointed by the city commission.
The current members of the GBIC are Tetreau, Esteban Guerra ( chair), commissioner Ricardo Longoria, and Pedro Cardenas. Former board member resigned February 19, 2019 and his replacement has not been appointed by the city commission.