(Ed.'s Note: Following numerous complaints of voter and harassment of their opponents and encroachment on the sidewalks and the fences of Veterans Park next to the main library, the City of Brownsville Police Department sent officers this morning to quell the disturbances. The majority of complaints were related to the behavior of the Brownsville Independent School District slate headed by Earsmo Castro, nephew Frankie Olivo, former BISD trustee Carlos Elizondo and Viro Cardenas.
Some of their opponents complained that they were abused verbally by the slate's candidates and supporters who had erected tents over the sidewalks leading to the library parking lot and the voting site. One, a member of the board of Texas Southmost College, said Olivo had attempted to trip her as she walked past them. In the past, the enforcement by city police of the clear sidewalks has been spotty and favored some incumbents such as former mayor Tony Martinez. Martinez's challenger Pat Ahumada was forced to remove his signs and lawn chairs from the spot.To add insult to injury, the slate's candidates dressed in orange, mimicking the orange jumpsuits they wore when they were arrested and then booked on a variety of charges. Castro is on probation for DWI, Elizondo is yet to go to trial on theft charges, Cardeas faces jail time for failing to a child support court order, and Olivo served probationary time on sexual harassment and stalking charges in the county's pre-trial diversion program.)