COUNTY ELECTION OFFICE WORKERS FEELING THE STRESS?

By Juan Montoya

As the operation of the Cameron County political machines and their operatives comes into focus of the Texas Attorney General's Office, local politiqueros and politiqueras are beginning to feel the strain.

Just yesterday Rose Melendez, who carries business cards describing herself as a political activist, was seen at the county courthouse on Harrison Street protesting that all she did was assist voters when they alighted off vans at the curb as they were led to the voting booth.

Others are said to be looking for destinations north of town and even eyeing the trek south to the Mother Country with trepidation as they weigh the prospects of traveling in that violence wracked landscape or sticking around to face the inevitable music. 

This has to cause a heavy strain on those county employees in the vortex of the troubles. Just a little over a week ago, Brownsville police patrol officers arrested Jesse Alan Valencia for the offense of Possession of a controlled substance (cocaine), a state jail felony, and Public intoxication. Jesse is an employee of the Cameron County Elections Office.

Jesse was apparently seen wondering through downtown Brownsville in an altered state and was nabbed by Brownsville's Finest and thrown in the clink.

To those acquainted with the action downtown, Jesse was probably caught with a dime bag as he was bar hopping in the two or three remaining bars left after Mayor Tony Martinez had the city commission buy the Market Square properties and put a stop tho that debauchery. Imagine people drinking beer and doing drugs downtown! That's a right reserved for the patrons of upscale bars north of Boca Chica.

The only good news for Jesse (pictured above) is the county's policy on substance abuse that states employees caught using them are given the opportunity to seek treatment and counseling. If Jesse takes the treatment and behaves, he should be able to overcome this embarrassment and carry out his duties.

With May elections coming in a little over a month and the office under scrutiny of the Texas AG, he and his coworkers are going to have to be at the top of their game to put on a good show.