MAYOR SHOWS TRUE COLORS: FIRM DEFENDS HERNANDEZ'S CAMP VOTER FRAUD IN YOLANDA BEGUM'S LAWSUIT

By Juan Montoya
While Hizzoner and self-declared King of Brownsville Tony Martinez has set out to reconstruct Browntown as we know it, he has allowed his law firm to engage the camp of JP 2-2 declared winner Erin Hernandez Garcia in defending them from allegation of voter fraud and abuse stemming from the July 31 runoff election.
Martinez, who has called in the experts with plans to purify our city and provide us with Better Block and in making our city safe and healthy for our pedestrian and cycling population aged from 8 to 80, apparently thinks that having the likes of Cameron County Commissioner Ernie Hernandez, daughter Erin, and his wife Norma and her politiqueras manipulate the sanctity of the democratic vote is a good thing.
Why else would he allow his partner Horacio Barrera – and his firm by extension – to become entangled with this bunch?

Now, no one begrudges a lawyer for defending a paying client, but in light of the brazen voter abuse and mail-in fraud ascribed to the Hernandez camp, it would appear that a professional firm the likes of the Martinez, Barrera y Martinez, LLP would distance itself from an outfit that's has been associated with manipulating the voting in Cameron County and the City of Brownsville for as long as anyone can remember.

In fact, one of the politiqueros named in the lawuit filed on behalf of Erin's opponent Yolanda Begum is Amadeo Rodriguez Jr., who Martinez thanked profusely in public after he won the election for mayor of the City of Brownsville.

The date of the trial has not been set, but as far as we know, Barrera and Martinez expect to get paid for their services. Will it be from the vending contract that the Hernandez's have with Cameron County in apparent violation of conflict-of-issue statutes? Or perhaps its from the income of the Cadriel Firing Range, Norma's brother Aroldo's business where the road was obligingly coated with county caliche by Ernie even though there were no residences within the range of gunfire? But then again, he's saddled with debt for the defense of his murder charge.

Or perhaps they will get paid by Erin's non-existent large client base?

In light of Emma Perez-Treviño's report today in the The Brownsville Herald that the Internal Revenue Service has filed a federal tax lien against Ernie and Norma Hernandez for the nonpayment of $821,206 in taxes, Martinez might want to advise his partner that he better ask for the money up front before the Hernandez try to duck the government and declare bankruptcy.

"We hired some attorneys to look into this and we hopefully will get it settled in the next couple of months, but it may take up to a year,” Hernandez told the daily.

So Tony and Horacio, you better get it up front before you have to stand in line, don't you think?

In terms of the cost in your political stock, it is doubtful that Ernie – who has thrown more than one gullible supporter under the bus – will be able to make it up after you get through defending him and his camp followers.