POLITIQUEROS
Influentials Persons Behind Political
Campaigns
(Every politico running for office has them. From the campaign of Solomon Ortiz to the campaign of Judge Maricela Saldana to the local races. Who are they?
Can we put a name and a face at least to some of them? This section is
dedicated to such an endeavor.)
Juan………..
Manrique -- this is an individual from
Manrique has had his share of controversy. You might recall the political and legal tug-of-war that took place sometime back between then-District Judge Terry Canales and Attorney Hector P. Gonzalez. Manrique was a friend of Judge Canales but decided to break ranks with this group after some personal and political disagreements surfaced. He joined forces with Canales’ rivals: history will note Canales’ political career came to an end, an awkward end.
Not often in the history of humankind is such a humble person, who is non-pretentious and short in stature born to exert so much influence. This is a story that there is more to power than just money and raw social status: there is political prestige or influence. Manrique has plenty of the aforementioned.
Marique’s Innate Skills:
In the previous election for District Judge, his support of Richard Terrell resulted in a historic victory. Manrique went around town harping on a message that eventually penetrated the voter populist. He is a master at verbal political propaganda: plus he has his network of followers.
Manrique sermonized in his own unique way how Attorney Terrell had grown up in the humble suburb known as “El Rancho Alegre” (translation: The Cheerful Ranch). How Terrell had so much in common with the working man in that he grew up poor and had worked for Flournoy Drilling as a floor hand – and eventually decided to give college and law school a try; Manrique added how Terrell climbed the ranks by working as an assistant District Attorney, Attorney for the Housing Authority and so forth.
Manrique explained: “I told my people how he had struggled like us. How Terrell had grown up pobre (poor) like us in the barrio. He was not born with a ‘silver spoon’ in his mouth I emphasized. The constant political propaganda worked. I became a walking radio, a talking newspaper, marketer and so forth. It can be done if one really applies himself/herself.”
When Terry Canales (in a previous election) tried to make a political comeback and decided to run for District Attorney against Joe Frank Garza. The confidence level was high. However, Manrique stepped in and influenced the formula in a manner that not even a professed political mathematician and trained strategist could.
Garza was re-elected to the post of District Attorney with an overwhelming voter percentage of about 70 to 30. “I had to teach Terry (Canales) a lesson. I had a gripe with him that I needed to settle. The power had gone to his head. Pobrecito (Poor guy) his career was ruined. Those are expected consequences of getting involved in la politica (in politics),” Manrique summed.
A hazard of the profession? The old school of politica is dying.
Recently
there have been a lot of changes in political office – politiqueros
like Juan Manrique are not taken lightly. The area
now has a new constable – Jesus “Chuy”
Where is Terry Canales? Some say he had to leave to Corpus and the Valley to practice law.
Other Changes? Arnold Saenz is the
Manrique helped Oscar Lopez keep his post; Lopez was challenged by Oscar Delgado Jr., and Jaime Garza. Sheriff Lopez was reelected by an overwhelming majority. When asked about Manrique, Sheriff Lopez responded: “He is very influential. If he tells a politico brinca (jump) … most do, believe me.”
A Message To The Commisioner’s
Court:
Manrique had a message for the commissioner’s court: “I would like to let the county commissioners know that the Sheriff’s Department is under budget. Monetary assistance is needed in this department to make it more effective and strong. Are you listening?”
Manrique recently had a confrontation with the County
Welfare Director Rene Valadez (who was/is appointed
by the
Manrique walked over to where his office assistants were and said: “You can continue helping the poor and needy, all you have to do is cut this person (pointing to one of his office assistants) and then pointing to another – cut off the budget.
Valadez froze and turned crimson.
Manrique commented during an interview with this publication: “I can’t understand how the county can afford to pay such individuals for doing nothing – just walking around and being paid $37,000 a year or sitting around crocheting. Where is the accountability? There are so many families out there that cannot afford to pay their medicines.”
Manrique vented during the interview: “You have individuals such as Yolanda Monsevaiz and Elena Johnson that are called so-called specialists. Of what? I don’t know and many don’t know either yet they are being paid anywhere from $20,000 to $27,000. I can’t see the logic. About $87,000 are going to pay three employees in the welfare department. They should realize that if there were no ‘indigent’ in the area they would be out of a job… This department needs only one employee to give accountability and longevity of expenditures… I feel that if they cannot serve the ‘indigent”, they should do away with the department and/or contract out. It is clearly not being run efficiently. I’m serious.”
Some of Manrique’s Disappointments And Hope:
Manrique is disappointed with the current city council in
“The reason I supported Juan Rodriguez Jr. for the city council is that I had a great deal of faith in him. I believe he is sincere and can make the difference. I’ve known Juan since he was a boy. I was a good friend of his father – Juan Sr. (a former police chief)… I feel a memorial should be erected in his father’s honor, that is, the late Juan Rodriguez Sr.”
“I went knocking on Juan Jr.’s door one day and told him he had to run. He accepted and now he is in office and he knows I will hold him accountable just like any other,” Manrique added.
Marique is critical of the three other city councilmen: Michael Esparza, Ray Garcia and Dora Munoz Alonzo. “They are trying to do more, the mentioned three for those that did not elect them. There are some who are like ‘puppeteers’ controlling the ‘puppets.’ Two individuals fit this description: Guadalupe Martinez (a well know pharmacist and school board member) and Newel Atkinson (a developer). These two should mind their own business. ‘Live and let live.’”
Manique insighted: “It has become
a personal attack (of the mentioned two persons above) against an ex-appraisal
district member, Abraham Aguilar, a person that has honor and not ‘bow down’ to
them. Aguilar is a good and courageous man who works hard for the community. He
brought accountability where there was not enough. We have a good community in
City
official Juan Reyna has worked very hard to work with the overall council as
well as City Manager Pete Anaya ; but four council
members disappointingly, according to Manrique, have over
compromised their principles by submitting to the whims of the likes of a powercrat by the name of Atkinson. Atkinson, full of flatulency
and self-importance, is purportedly trying to collect on political favors with
four council members, according to Manrique, because
he cannot convince the dynamic City Manager to support his despotic master plan
for
“We have intervention in the appraisal district by both
Who Does Manrique Credit At This Point?
Who does Manrique admire at this point in Alice’s and Jim Wells’ history? “I admire an attorney by the name of Joe Torrez III. I consider him EL ABOGADO DEL PUEBLO (the attorney of the people) because on numerous occasions he has gone out of his way to assist and give legal assistance to those who cannot afford it. I praise him for his his-conscience.”
Who else does he admire? “I give thanks to Homero Villarreal and his wife Mati: the owners of El Defenzor newspaper who give time and service to all the surrounding communities. They allow the average citizen and the little ones to express their opinion. I also say to my friends in business to support such a publication that mirrors who we are as a pueblo. Advertise in such a publication: we are a people of culture and as such have to polish such a media movement and also help our people.”
There are others Manrique credits: Justice of
the Peace Luis “Kino” Rodriguez (who has gone above and beyond in helping his
precinct) as well as County Auditor Eladio Gonzalez
Jr., (who was appointed by District Judge Richard Terrell. Gonzalez is “more
than worthy of a raise” according to Manrique. Finally,
Manrique wished to recognize Craig Sico (a