Special to El Rrun-Rrun
The endorsements of the local groups are starting to roll in.
The Brownsville Firefighters Association Local #970 announced that they are endorsing former Chief Municipal Judge Ben Neece who is challenging incumbent District 4 commissioner John Villarreal
The Local also announced it is endorsing Earsmo Castro over incumbent Rose Gowen for the At-Large "B" seat on the commission. The union also endorsed William Garza over Joel Munguia for the District 3 seat now held by Deborah Portillo.
Other endorsements that we have heard about include the Brownsville Realtors who endorsed Neece and Rose Gowen and didn't endorse anyone in the District 3 race so far.
The Brownsville Police Officers Association came out for Neece and Gowen. If you know the officers of the BPOA, perhaps they could post the endorsements on their website as should the others.
From the beginning, it has been apparent that Gowen, Munguia, and Villarreal were running as a slate. If there was ever any doubt, check out the campaign workers wearing Gowen T-shirts and holding Villarreal signs. That has gelled their opposition into an ad hoc slate of their opponents, although the other three say they are running independently.
The race for city commissioners and the endorsement by the union signals the diminution of control over the group by former union president Carlos Elizondo. Elizondo, now fire chief, needs the support of a majority on the city commission to retain his job since his contract comes up for renewal annually. There has been ample criticism of his apparent violation of the city personnel policy that prohibits a city employee from holding elective office within the city's jurisdiction.
Elizondo is also a trustee of the Brownsville Independent School District.
If these elections wrest majority control from Mayor Tony Martinez, he might be forced to decide on whether to retain his paid position or serve as a BISD trustee for no pay. For now, however, it is clear that he cannot deliver the firefighters union vote for the incumbents who put him there.