Hidalgo County Judge candidate Ramon Garcia signs on as a supporter of Valley Interfaith's legislative agenda at an accountability session in McAllen on Sunday.

McALLEN, Feb. 7 - Sister Maria Sanchez of Valley Interfaith quoted Charles Dickens at the group’s Candidate Accountability Session on Sunday: “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.”

Sanchez said: “Thirty percent of Valley families live below the poverty level, with that figure rising to 50 percent for single parent families. Five hundred Valley families per month are losing their property every month.”

At Holy Spirit Church, candidates for state representative, county commissioner and county judge, appeared in front of the consolidated membership of Valley Interfaith in the Upper Valley to weigh in on issues of importance to Rio Grande Valley residents.

At the local level, candidates were asked:

1. Will you work to allocate and vote to approve an increase in annual funding for Project VIDA from $250,000 to $500,000 during the 2011 budget cycle?

2. Will you work to remove punitive restrictions on housing rehabilitation for families suffering from devastation of Hurricane Dolly, and vote to approve necessary changes and monitor the implementation of these rules?

3. Will you work with Valley Interfaith to dedicate tobacco settlement money to the Community Oriented Health Clinics, like El Milagro or Hope, through an RFP or other mechanism?

4. Will you vote to approve expenses for the recording and platting of Colonia John Closner and work with Valley Interfaith on other colonia infrastructure issues, such as drainage in Las Milpas and off-street lighting in Pueblo de Palmas and others?

All the candidates running for office at the county level said “yes” to all the questions.

At the state level, candidates were asked:

1a. Will you commit to maintain at least level JET funding of 10 million dollars and work to increase it if the budget allows? 

1b. Will you commit to maintain the legislation as it is written and protect against any changes that would broaden the criteria from its original intent of providing matching funds for successful long-term job training for living wage jobs? 

2. Will you draft and file legislation that increases eligibility for CHIP from 200 percent to 300 percent of poverty and change the 6 month re-enrollment for Medicaid to every 12 months?

3. Will you fight attempts at passing Anti-Immigration legislation at a state level and support comprehensive Immigration Reform at a National level?

All the candidates running for the Texas House said “yes” to all the questions.

State Representative challenger Joel De Los Santos and incumbent Rep. Armando Martinez, D-Weslaco, both came out in favor of increased funding for the JET Fund, and CHIP and Medicaid. Each opposed anti-immigrant initiatives currently pending in the next session of the state legislature.

“Yes I will definitely fight hard for immigration reform at the state and national level because in my district there are so many residents affected,” (by current immigration inequities), said De Los Santos.

“Yes I will continue to oppose anti-immigrant legislation in the legislature as I have been doing,” said Martinez, “I think we have a proven track record in the state legislature stopping anti-immigrant legislation, we are going to continue to do that. We are going to continue to support the people of District 39 and the Rio Grande Valley.”

County Judge candidates Eloy Pulido and Ramon Garcia both came out in favor of two issues strongly endorsed by Valley Interfaith, increased pressure on the federal government for the relief of Hurricane Dolly victims who are still suffering the effects of the storm even after a year and a half and increase funding for drainage and lighting in Hidalgo County colonias.

Mary Barajas, a Valley resident whose home was destroyed by Hurricane Dolly got no help from FEMA and only a $25.00 disposal fee to demolish her home. Her husband has since then suffered a heart attack, and her mother a stroke. The family has no medical insurance and no permanent home. “Politicians and empty promises, what are you going to do?’’ Barajas asked, challenging the county candidates. “Look at me and remember because I am a homeless person.”

Garcia, a former county judge, answered: “The answer to both questions is yes. My philosophy of government is always to help those that need help where the political system is able to provide that help. Where funding is available it is the duty of county government to apply for it.”

Pulido, also a former county judge, responded: “It’s not a question of jurisdictions, it’s a question of the County Judge assuming his role to seek help from Washington, D.C., as appropriate, pointing out (to the federal government the unique needs of the colonias of the Rio Grande Valley.”

The ensuing set of questions revolved around the appropriation of tobacco settlement funds to El Milagro Clinic, a Valley Interfaith supported medical facility in McAllen that serves low income families not covered by health insurance. Both county judge candidates responded affirmatively.

Valley Interfaith moderators then asked all of the legislative and county office candidates to sign on an accountability chart placed on the stage in front of all the membership present.

Immediately at the close of the session in exclusive interviews with Guardian each of the candidates for county judge stated why each respectively thought he was the better candidate for the job.

“I have a strong work ethic. I am a hard worker. I dedicate myself to the job ten to 12 hours a day,” Pulido said. “That’s a big advantage and that’s what the job requires in a county this size. You can’t run the county from a law office. You have to be in the county judge’s office every day. The only way you can provide the needed leadership is by being there.”

Garcia said: “We are in tough economic conditions right now. What I did when I was there was to be very involved in the county budget. We worked on eliminating wasteful spending. There were no tax increases for four straight years. We enjoyed the largest surplus in the history of the county and we did that by carefully scrutinizing all contracts with the county while my opponent when he left had raised taxes three years in a row.”

Other candidates appearing at the accountability session were those running for Texas House District 36, Sandra Rodriguez and Sergio Muñoz, and County Commissioner for Precinct 4, Joseph Palacios and incumbent Oscar Garza. The Guardian will focus on their comments at the Valley Interfaith event in separate stories.

Write Bill Rovira

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