A Changing of the Guard in the City of San Juan...The Lords of Political Kharma...Citizens brace for positive change...
Somewhere in the universe, the lords of political kharma must be smiling. After this past Saturday's general election, the citizen's of San Juan may have something to smile about as well.
Claudia Gonzalez, the challenger for Place 5 on San Juan's City Commission, and who people around town said held no real name recognition, defeated incumbent Ricardo "Rick" Rodriguez. Claudia Gonzalez garnered 56.57% of the total ballots cast with 1,072 votes. Ricardo "Rick" Rodriguez held his own but came up short collecting 43.43% of the total ballots with 803 votes.
Results were published online on the Hidalgo County Elections Department website. The results were still unofficial as of Tuesday, but what's interesting to note is that the Place 4 election for city commissioner almost mirrors the Place 5 election, vote for vote.
Eddie Rodriguez received 57.09% of the total ballots cast with 1,071 votes. The challenger, Ruben Navarro received 42.91% of the total ballots with 805 votes. It doesn't take a genius to realise the definite faction lines across San Juan.
But so what? Or better yet, what now? Do, or should the citizen's of San Juan expect positive change? Or have they set themselves up for more of the same?
After all, the recent controversy that wrought the City of San Juan revolves around the study to purchase the historic San Juan Hotel. To wit, according to the commissioner's meeting dated March 28, 2006, and information provided by The SanJuanistas web site, San Juan may have dodged a major financial bullet brought upon by City Commissioners Ricardo "Rick" Rodriguez, and Pete Contreras. Rodriguez and Contreras are employees of the PSJA School District. The owner of the property is PSJA School Board Member Roy Rodriguez, who plans to sell the hotel for $575,000 dollars to somebody. This past March, that somebody was almost the City of San Juan. City Commissioner Ricardo "Rick" Rodriguez voted a motion of continuance into the study of purchasing the hotel. Despite protests by citizens in attendance, City Commissioner Pete Contreras seconded the motion. Currently, the issue stands in some type of limbo, given that Gonzalez has replaced Ricardo "Rick" Rodriguez as Place 5 City Commissioner. Where thing's stand now, the citizens of San Juan should definitely keep their eyes and ears peeled.
Time can only tell what type of change the two new city commissioners will bring to the city of San Juan, Texas. Will it be positive? Will it be negative?
Only the citizens, and the lords of political kharma hold the ledger on that.
posted by Hector @ 8:16 AM
1 Comments:
Tues comm meeting should be an interesting one. As you mention, will it be negative or positive. I guess we will have to show up and find out. When new administration comes in usually, there are a lot of employees that get fired. When Mayor Sanchez was elected last year
she mentioned that she would not do that. I wonder if these two new comm will honor that ?
As mentioned yesterday. Rumors have that the Guajardo's did not push for these two candidates.
here are some numbers.
While the Rodriguez/Navarro ticket received 803 votes.
Arturo Guajardo Jr received 1570 votes in S.J. this primary. That is over 767 votes..
I guess the Guajardo's pushed for the School and left these two guys
alone. The numbers are there. When the Guajardo's have one of there own as a candidate they make it happen.
It is going to be interesting what 2008 will hold for us. Rumors are out there already that NANO will run for Mayor..
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