Special to The Tribune
HARLINGEN, Texas - In politics, there is the seasoned politician who can see the Big Picture and act on behalf of the whole, and then there is the novice politician who can simply not absorb the gravity of any moment, especially when that moment comes at a time when a community is struggling to survive.
The politician shown in the photo above - Harlingen City Commissioner Kori Marra - apparently falls into the second category, regularly exhibiting emotional decision-making that is strangely akin to welcoming her constituents aboard a runaway roller-coaster ride. She treated the local citizenry to another Marranada last night, when she sat as the lone Nay vote on the contract offered to new City Manager Carlos Yerena. Marra had voted in favor of his hiring during the previous meeting. She apparently did not offer an explanation for her stunning negative vote, although one of her staunchest backers, local Blogger Jerry Deal, posted a vague note saying she had issues with Yerena's contract.
What those issues are only Marra knows.
Said resident Joe Rubio, a former city cop and current private eye: "Kori stood by her big gun and voted against Yerena’s salary. But she owes the public a reasonable explanation for her negative vote because her vote can be misconstrued in several different ways."
Yerena, formerly the city manager of bucolic Kingsville, will receive an annual salary of $140,000, plus perks. The amount is less than is paid to the city manager of smaller, but thriving Weslaco to the city's west.
To citizens here, Marra's vote is odd on a variety of levels. If her opposition to a certain clause in the new guy's contract is such that she takes the strange vote, well, what exactly is the problem with the contract? Her constituents, and the rest of economically-strapped Harlingen, would like to know. To act as if on a Student Council in high school is not helpful for all concerned.
What is the obstacle to a Yay vote?
Harlingen presses forward, trying deperately to come out of its freefall. All who know smalltown politics know that a city manager's job rests tremendously on the support he gets from the elected officials, mayor and commissioners in this case. What does Ms. Marra, a real estate sales practitioner, gain by voting No? What it says to city residents is that she will continue to be the petulant burr on the community saddle - a naysayer and contrarian to anything anyone else offers as a solution to the city's woes.
Real Estate lives and dies on presentation. In this case, City Commissioner Kori Marra has plastered the city's image with a dark splotch many can only associate with the mini-mind games at City Hall. Mr. Yerena will take the job and begin tackling a mountain of problems.
If her past service is any indication of what's to come, Commissioner Marra will sit on the curb and wait for the new city manager to stumble. She'll pop-off at the first mistake, indicate many more are coming. Her shrilly voice will rise during City Commission meetings. Heads will shake, frowns will abound, shoulders will shrug, the community will suffer her foolishness. It's predictable.
It's the game of the child, the teenager, the high school student body class president who stubbornly goes about his little duties, forever believing that his/her actions in some way bring added meaning to the dynamics of a school. Sadly, for Marra, this is not high school.
Someone should drop her a line, an Email, a text message and tell her she is no longer eighteen...
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[EDITOR'S NOTE: According to a source familiar with the lowdown, Marra recently met with fellow Commissioner Robert Leftwich, during which she complained of being forced to vote unanimous the last time. Leftwich reportedly told her to vote her conscience. And that's what she did last night. Many in town believe she never was for city manager applicant Carlos Yerena, from the outset...]
10 comments:
Most , if not All people from the R.G.V. feel that They really don't have a VOICE regarding to any political matter. Tha's why we have a very low turnout at the voting dates.
" NI VOZ NI VOTO "
" NOR VOICE NOR VOTE "
Mr. Lopez, you an rare intellect. And obviously extremely educated. Just wanted you to know.
Harold
The rumor is one commissioner and the Mayor wanted someone else. Commish Marra has some problems, in this matters she should vote with the commission. The current Commission is here to stay, whether anyone likes it or not. Jerry, Joey, Guz and Robert are not going anywhere, and to be cambatant just to be, is not the answer, I hope we get a good candidate from her district and send her back to sell empty lots.
ANONYMOUS:...Well said. You have in one fell swoop spelled-out the obvious. Commissioner Marra can keep dangling her strange brain out there as if it is some clump of meat hung for passing raptors. But at some point she has to realize that her solitary "No" vote isn't getting her anywhere. But women are funny. They'll break your heart... - Editor
To Lupe Tortillas, you're 1005 rigth, We our low- educated people, mostly from NorthEastern Mexico border towns. Their lack of interest and motivation also,is due to they just want to work at any manual - labor, They are just glad to have any job- maybe they are used to follow orders and not stand for anything, their apathy is emminent; just look at we are we in Political , economic and social Power / status ? Their lack sense of a strong - Character is so weak regarding all of the above - that I must Say that The Mexican - American communities in General, are all a LOST CAUSE.
Anonymouse, that is exactly how you sound. Hispanics need to come out and vote on any and all elections. (Quit putting the Hispanic communities down)
I don't know the voting patterns in Brownsville, but in Harlingen Anglos get a free pass. That my fellow Valleyites is a fact.
One silly female Commissioner decides no one is listening to her anymore, so she becomes defiant just to be on the spot light.
Her Buddy Jerry Deal will probably write an article defending her silly childish actions.
The fact is that she behaves like a spoil child, speaks down at people and thinks she is God's gift to man kind. She isn't, all we are saying is get with the program and quit trying to make yourself the focal point at the commission meetings.
RORI:...We agree on most of your points. Commissioner Marra in Harlingen comes across as being off on her own asteroid, winging it across some parallel world. She and a few other Valley politicians are lucky there is no test for the job.. We wonder: Can Kori Marra see Russia from her house?... - Editor
At a rally, she did say, at one time she was teaching at the Middle School level. Who knows, but her demeanor at times becomes troublesome, even as a female, we cannot condone childish tantrums in public settings.
I hear they are filing a complaint with the city attorney for a conflict of interest, sometime today.
On Wednesday, she threw another tantrum. I think this crazy woman is disfunctional. Korri Marra go back to West Texas, we don't need your kind here in the Valley.
Take Junior Bonner with you. He looks like your type. Dried up.
ANONYMOUS:...Hey, now. Junior Bonner's galpal - Blanca Estela of Rio Hondo - says he is not dried-up. You decide what that may mean. And, it goes without saying that we would never use Junior's name in a sentence that contained Kori Marra's. Well, just in that one, to say that... - Editor
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