For some reason or other, would-be Justice of the Peace candidates for the Precinct 2, Place 2 office occupied by Johnathan Gracia are doubling down that he can be beaten.
So far, there are three candidates who have appointed their treasurers with the Cameron County Elections Office who say they will run for that office. Gracia has given no indication if he will seek re-election. If he does, it will make four so far running for the position.
But why has that office suddenly attracted so many candidates?
On April 18, Javier Reyna, a captain with the Cameron County Sheriff's Dept. and brother of Chief Deputy Gus Reyna was the first to file for that office.
Then, on July 7, Fred Martinez, a former bail bondsman and office dispatcher for Constable Abel Gomez also threw in his hat in the ring.
He was followed by Jesus T. "Chuy" Garcia, a well-known attorney who ran for the judgeship of Cameron County Court at Law #5 and who filed on July 18.
Texas does not require candidates or office holders of JP courts to have a law degree. To serve as a justice of the peace, justices must complete a 40-hour course on relevant duties within one year of their election. They must also complete a similar 20-hour course each year they continue to serve.
In fact, two other Brownsville JPs – Linda Salazar and Mary Esther Sorola – have completed this requirement and continue to serve. No one has filed against either so far.
Martinez lists his wife Margie as his treasurer. Garcia lists Rosana Aguilera, the manager of Chuy's Custom Sports, as his treasurer. And Reyna lists Tony Torres, Jr., a Brownsville Police Dept. officer, as his treasurer.
Coincidentally, Torres Jr. is the son of the late Tony Torres, who just happened to have held that same JP office before he passed away.
The Democratic Party primary will be in March 2018.