By Juan Montoya
Remember the days and months before the election for Cameron County judge when John Wood, the current Brownsville Navigation Commissioner and former Pct. 2 Cameron County commissioner, started putting up signs all over the county with his name and the year of the election, and nothing more?
There was no mention of the fact that Wood was going to run for county judge. Since he had more than a year left in his term, he would have had to resign his position, give up his salary, and name a treasurer. That would not have been convenient, so he opted for the teaser that he was going to be a candidate for...something.
Well, we're in mid-2017, scant months before the March 2018 primaries where the parties hold elections to see who'll face the other parties' candidates in the 2018 general elections. It used to be a sure thing that the Democratic Party candidates who emerged victorious in the primaries were a shoo in in November. But the election of two Republicans for county judge and a smattering of constables have changed all that.
So if you are eyeing a run at a county position coming up for grabs, say a county commissioner's post, it is to your interest to start putting your name out in the district to at least let people know you'll be running for...something.
We say this because we checked with the Cameron County Elections Office and found that so far only six candidates have filed an appointment of their campaign treasurer. They are:
JP Pct. 2-1: Linda Salazar, Treasurer Rick Zayas
JP Pct. 2-3: Mary Esther Sorola, Treasurer Ruben Gallegos, Jr.
County Commissioner PCt. 2: Joe "Joey" Lopez, Treasurer Frank Wood
JP Pct. 2-2: Javier Reyna, Treasurer Tony Torres, Jr.
County Court At-Large #2: Laura L. Betancourt, John R. Serna
County Clerk: Dahlia E. "Lali" Betancourt, Luis D. Gonzales, Jr.
Noticeably absent from the list is the guy with the baby blue signs (and eyes) Rigo Bocanegra, who last ran in the race for a position in the Brownsville Independent School District. In that race (a majority vote race), Dr. Sylvia Atkinson took the race.
![]()
Bocanegra has been coy about naming the position he is going to seek, but a cursory reading of his social media pages leave little doubt that he is eyeing the Pct. 2 county commissioner's seat currently held by Alex Dominguez.
Dominguez, in turn, has made it no secret he will be considering unseating State Rep. Rene Oliveira should the District 38 incumbent decide to seek reelection. It's hard to gauge Oliveira's intentions since he has racked up more that 30 years there and says he only seeks reelection with the justification that he has some "work" he has to finish before he retires.
Yet, a review of the treasurers' filings indicates Bocanegra has not filed his treasurer's appointment. As such, he is not supposed to collect or spend money on any campaign. Yolanda Begum was his treasurer for his BISD run, and when we asked him about this current endeavor, he said his treasurer – once he announces – will be Aida Montenaro-Flores.
Bocanegra is being supported unabashedly by "Team Saenz," a group headed by Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz and his brother Mario. Both men have appeared in social media endorsing him as a "humble" man.
![]()
His campaign signs do not display the name of a treasurer, either. Of course, it may just be an oversight on Bocanegra's part, but having the DA as your supporter lessens the risk, it would appear.
The Texas Secretary of State website states that: "the law provides that you must file a campaign treasurer appointment form with the proper filing authority before you may accept a campaign contribution or make or authorize a campaign expenditure, including an expenditure from your personal funds. A filing fee paid to a filing authority to qualify for a place on a ballot is a campaign expenditure that may not be made before filing a campaign treasurer appointment form with the proper filing authority."
So, Rigo. It's still early before the March 2018 primary. Perhaps conforming with this small detail might make it easier sailing as the 2018 campaign season starts.
Remember the days and months before the election for Cameron County judge when John Wood, the current Brownsville Navigation Commissioner and former Pct. 2 Cameron County commissioner, started putting up signs all over the county with his name and the year of the election, and nothing more?
There was no mention of the fact that Wood was going to run for county judge. Since he had more than a year left in his term, he would have had to resign his position, give up his salary, and name a treasurer. That would not have been convenient, so he opted for the teaser that he was going to be a candidate for...something.
Well, we're in mid-2017, scant months before the March 2018 primaries where the parties hold elections to see who'll face the other parties' candidates in the 2018 general elections. It used to be a sure thing that the Democratic Party candidates who emerged victorious in the primaries were a shoo in in November. But the election of two Republicans for county judge and a smattering of constables have changed all that.
So if you are eyeing a run at a county position coming up for grabs, say a county commissioner's post, it is to your interest to start putting your name out in the district to at least let people know you'll be running for...something.
We say this because we checked with the Cameron County Elections Office and found that so far only six candidates have filed an appointment of their campaign treasurer. They are:
JP Pct. 2-1: Linda Salazar, Treasurer Rick Zayas
JP Pct. 2-3: Mary Esther Sorola, Treasurer Ruben Gallegos, Jr.
County Commissioner PCt. 2: Joe "Joey" Lopez, Treasurer Frank Wood
JP Pct. 2-2: Javier Reyna, Treasurer Tony Torres, Jr.
County Court At-Large #2: Laura L. Betancourt, John R. Serna
County Clerk: Dahlia E. "Lali" Betancourt, Luis D. Gonzales, Jr.
Noticeably absent from the list is the guy with the baby blue signs (and eyes) Rigo Bocanegra, who last ran in the race for a position in the Brownsville Independent School District. In that race (a majority vote race), Dr. Sylvia Atkinson took the race.
Bocanegra has been coy about naming the position he is going to seek, but a cursory reading of his social media pages leave little doubt that he is eyeing the Pct. 2 county commissioner's seat currently held by Alex Dominguez.
Dominguez, in turn, has made it no secret he will be considering unseating State Rep. Rene Oliveira should the District 38 incumbent decide to seek reelection. It's hard to gauge Oliveira's intentions since he has racked up more that 30 years there and says he only seeks reelection with the justification that he has some "work" he has to finish before he retires.
Yet, a review of the treasurers' filings indicates Bocanegra has not filed his treasurer's appointment. As such, he is not supposed to collect or spend money on any campaign. Yolanda Begum was his treasurer for his BISD run, and when we asked him about this current endeavor, he said his treasurer – once he announces – will be Aida Montenaro-Flores.
Bocanegra is being supported unabashedly by "Team Saenz," a group headed by Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz and his brother Mario. Both men have appeared in social media endorsing him as a "humble" man.
The Texas Secretary of State website states that: "the law provides that you must file a campaign treasurer appointment form with the proper filing authority before you may accept a campaign contribution or make or authorize a campaign expenditure, including an expenditure from your personal funds. A filing fee paid to a filing authority to qualify for a place on a ballot is a campaign expenditure that may not be made before filing a campaign treasurer appointment form with the proper filing authority."
So, Rigo. It's still early before the March 2018 primary. Perhaps conforming with this small detail might make it easier sailing as the 2018 campaign season starts.