Special to The Tribune
HARLINGEN, Texas - How much is tomorrow worth to a politician? The quick answer is: Everything. For Robert Leftwich, tomorrow cannot get here soon enough. He is thinking far ahead, to a time when he grabs the reins of city government and begins floating his plan for the struggling city's future.
In the parlance of the sea, he is underway.
Little by little, in moves at City Hall and some as quiet as the shedding of an annoying blogger formerly his great ally on the local political front, City Commissioner Leftwich has the framework in place, foundation at the ready, time being the only thing to wait on. Harlingen's battle to survive in a region seemingly blooming is the challenge at hand. Is Leftwich the man to tackle the city's return to prominence? Will he even get the chance?
The land is a piece of mid-valley geography steeped in racism, bigotry and cries from the abandoned and the dispossessed. In words that speak to anger, fight and outright disgust, many of the city's residents blame the so-called Old Guard, namely old, white men who guarded their fiefdom against the ambitions of the town's dominant Hispanic population. Letwich appears to come bearing the views of the latter. His actions to date as commissioner have placed him in the headlights of the Old Guard standard-bearers on the City Hall group, that being Mayor Chris Boswell and City Commissioner Kori Marra. Boswell and Marra have been unrepentant backers of the city's establishment, at times exhibiting childish behavior in support of the past when discussing issues that come before the commission.
Leftwich has kept a low profile in the past few months, his only discernible action being his decision to split from Harlingen Blogger Tony Chapa, a former ally some see as poison for any Leftwich-For-Mayor campaign. Chapa's bellicose rants against civility, it is said, would doom any politician's plans.
City business here always comes at you in desperation mode. If it isn't City Manager Carlos Yerena being taken to task for being what some residents say is a "Do-Nothing," to the recent approval of a multi-million dollar outlay to lure fishing and hunting retailer Bass Pro Shops inside the city limits. The chatter in the street is palpable. The talk in the cafes is no longer about the drug war in Mexico or the Dallas Cowboys. Crunch time has come to town and people are looking for solutions to high unemployment, slow business, gang warfare and a feeling that Harlingen is dead in the water, its pulse barely registering, its chances of returning to the winning fold so deep in the resident psyche that some say it would take a giant shovel to dig out of the present mess.
Leftwich waits.
Many here say the city has run out of time...
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14 comments:
excelent story. Leftwich is the man. He will win.
Robert Leftwich needs to step up. he's too quiet lately. Marra will challenge him, so he needs to do something soon.
I am very impressed with the scope of your blog, but wonder if perhaps longer, more in-depth articles would not still further add to your efforts. I always enjoy reading it and would like to see longer articles. I am sure your readers would appreciate it, as well. (Doris)
Good post, we know Robert would serve honorably as our next Mayor. The old guard has Marra as the under study of Chris.
But she is so confused, we don't think she can win. I think a good candidate can send her packing back to West Texas in her precinct. As a mayorl candidate, she doesn't stand a chance, she has too much baggage.
Good write up, Nick, very good.
Nick, some are saying, if Robert doesn't run, they think, Guz Ruiz could challange, Chris or Marra.
The city is as stagnant as ever, sales are up, because of the holidays.
Some of the citizens are hoping Pro Bass will help out.
Still 12% unemployment is no joke, and if people don't have money to spend, how can a city generate sales tax.
Everyone is hoping 2011 will be better. (including me)
sand man
Nick Ryan is correct on this post, the other morning, at me Rancho rest. The topic of Chapos blog came up.
Just about everyone agrees, that blog has become a joke.
Someone who works at tstc, called it a rumor mill, with nothing but lies and profanities.
I heard some are going to ask to be removed them from chapos e mail list. Because it is embarrassing being associated with mhns.
Chapos blog is toxic, who would want to associate themselves, with a blog, that has bible versus and comments about homosexuality, one comment, right after the other.
Nick, just for your information, Chris Boswell and Robert Leftwich, term expire at the same time.
In May of 2012, Korry Marra, Jerry Prep, and Joey Trevino's terms are up.
Mr. Leftwich, has quiet a bit of time left as Commissioner, as does commissioner Guz Ruiz.
Robert leftwich needs to dump Chapa. and he needs to do it in a very public manner. he should post it on jerry deal's blog. right way.
Anon, if you will notice at mhns, they are posting comments with no interest, chapos bombastic comments are old style, like the old guard. Example: "Harlingen population sign committing fraud."
Since when does a sign committs fraud.
The idiot that wrote that story should be horse whipped.
Or some crap about Joseph Rubio, lately many of his comments are posted on Jerry's blog.
That is because no one is reading his blog, well other than Ren, Jake and whoever else name that individual blogs under.
Oh, I forgot, some guy Juan Ortega, who chapo supported for precinct 4 commissioner race also blogs there. By the way Juan, got a total of 160 votes on the last election. He even paid to have mhns post a picture of him.
Juan, another loser, like John Wood.
Kermit Perez, good post on your side bar, it is true. There are too many Vets, who are looking for work.
Some are disabled, Fred Rendon and veterans advocate is trying hard to help as many as he can.
The irony is that some of these vets are young and have a long life ahead of them.
I am hoping they will get there life back to normal, sooner than later.
Chapaneco is called, "The coward of the County." He was offered a way to prove his manly hood by a blogger name King Kanute.
The blogger offered to buy the boxing gloves, and for Chapa and Rubio to settle their differences in an alley in Harlingen.
And he ran and hid under the skirt of his love, Jakey.
Jakey or Rennee, or Judith, or whatever name he blogs under, promised defended his girlfriend honor. ( Ay,Floresitas del Rio no se vayan a criebar)
Wow, wow, wow, when did this post appeared, someone offered to buy Boxing gloves, to see if chapis was a real man, and Chapis se rajo, viejo miedoso, pos no que tress muy hombrecito. Chapaneco, quitate los pantalones Y ponte falda, faldillon.
Di la verdad tienes miedo. Viejo, cool-aid.
Leftwich will never be mayor of Harlingen. He doesn't have the support. He is very beatable, even in his own district.
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