Editor of The Tribune
HARLINGEN, Texas - In some circles here, Robert Leftwich's work as a city commissioner is seen as enough of a public service foundation to ready a run for mayor, something Leftwich says is on his mind, although not to the point of deciding on it. Times are tough in the mid-valley community of almost 70,000, and there are those ceaseless waves of ragged rumblings within the city - noise that cannot be seen as anything other than political angst and unrest.
Earlier this week, we forwarded a list of questions to the 46-year-old commissioner. Here is what he had to say in reply:
My position on running for Mayor is that all options are on the table at this point. But given that the mayoral race isn’t until 2013, with family and work commitments, it’s still too far out to be more than just a consideration at this point.
As far as what would make me decide more so or not about running would have to start with what the demands were of my family. The other thing that would be a major consideration to running would be who else might throw their hat in. If I didn’t feel that a qualified individual with community-first intentions was stepping up to vie for the position, then that would strengthen my consideration towards running.
As far as the current state of political affairs in Harlingen, beginning with the transformational move in citizen representation by going to a district format, I feel that many more people who once felt disenfranchised under the citywide election process now feel that they can make a difference in city on-goings.
For many decades in Harlingen large portions of the city were fed crumbs from the table, so to speak, in terms of being provided adequate city services. Undeniably, as evidenced by the decay in too many of our neighborhoods, and the escalation of criminal activity throughout the city, the citizens have suffered needlessly from the narrow-mindedness of some in leadership positions in Harlingen.
Today, as a result of a broader demographic diversity of citizen involvement in the direction of the city, I feel that Harlingen, as a community, has shifted gears for the better as we enter into the 21st century.
The critics of change are mostly those who have enjoyed having their fingers in the coffers of City Hall in some form or fashion, selling their cause as being righteous and noble, but in reality, and as history has proven out, pursuing only self-enrichment.
As with any change in political advantage, it is those that have lost the most that become the biggest critics of those who have taken the helm. Politics can be brutal at times, actually, most always, and those willing to make the case for change can expect to receive no thanks when things turn out right, but only condemnation for any little thing that can by exploited and blown out of proportion by their critics.
Personal Factoids:
Has been employed for the last 22.5 years with United Launch Alliance (ULA). ULA is a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The Harlingen ULA facility produces structural components for the Atlas rocket.
His favorite book is a book in a book, the book of Psalm in the Bible.
The Leftwich family consists of his wife, Michelle, and daughters Cassy 7, Shelby 11, Kayla, 16, plus stepdaughter Brittany, 12.
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[Editor's Note: This report was published here earlier this year. Again, there are rumblings that Mr. Leftwich may seek the thankless job of mayor in Harlingen. We wish him well...]
45 comments:
Sounds like a good man. Hear good things about him in town. We'll see. Glad to read his thoughts. 2013 is not all that far away, Mr. Leftwich.
Exellent article. we need more info on our elected officials. The Tribune does it with class. We don't see this sort of reporting on the other blogs. So thank you again!
i can imagine a better Harlingen with Leftweich as mayor. Chris Boswell is a cold, cold man. Hope this man runs for the job.
This man seems to be a good public servant. He doesn't rant at city hall meetings and appears to be level-headed. I'd vote for him.
Robert Leftwich, Lefty, is a good man. He could do good work as Mayor. At the moment we don't have one.
(We don't have a good blog in Harlingen).
Anon, Jerry Deal is about as good as you are going to get. The Chicken buckets blog is not bad but mhns, is nothing but garbage. Rumors, lies and baseless comments.
Deal is okay, but he;s slow and behind the times. they say he is almost 80 years old. can't remember when he had anything about Joey trevino or Robert Leftwich. I say The Tribune is the best. Read it every day. you're right about Chapa's mess. it's worthless.
harlingen needs something. Mr. Leftwich should prepare some sort of presentation about his vision for the community. it seems to me that we have a whole lot of people who say the same thing about what Harlingen should do. But how about some new ideas? I mean NEW!!
I would encourage everyone, to ignore mhns, Anon, is right Jerry is getting up in age. I understand HEAT is going to open up a blog, as soon as they set themselves up. I was a meeting, and read a flier.
El Chapaninco, is going crazy trying to get his crappy blog going.
Champaenceo, is promoting a new pac, only problem no one knows about it, except him.
I hear through the grapevine, is more like a citizens group, not a pac.
There are rumors that she moved from her location, or residence, but no one know where.
I guess the paranoid is the word, or as the Hispanics say after a good doze of alchohol, el la cruda.
What???? Chapa is still around, pinche chaparro, inservible.
Harlingen would be a much better place without Chapa's blog. It is useless. we need smart people behind our effort to improve and all he does is throw crap in the mix. Ignore Chapa's blog everybody! Mr. Leftwich should stay away from that blog as well. It will do him no good.
We are going to encourage politicians to say far, far away from Chanpenco's rag line blog. I swear puro chisme, viejo loco.
Want to encourage all my Catholic brothers, to visit the church during lint. It is good for the soul.
Good post mr. Editor.
HEAT, met today, nothing but good stuff, they are trying hard to organize. Very interesting, meeting. But they need more members, paying dues members.
Champaneco, is exploting the Ron Lozano stuff. Look, who cares who goes to jail. And who cares, who reported first, pinche chapppeneco, is not a reporter, and his piece of crap blob, is not credible. That blog is not a news media outlet.
It's interesting that the Tribune has ignored Ron Lozano unlike the other two blogs. It tells me Lozano is a joke and the other bloggers bigger jokes.
Thank God, I am so sick of that Lozano guy. I hear through the Grapevine, that is what is keeping people away from HEAT. Oh well, we shall see.
Maybe he will get the message and go away.
Wait, that is champaneco's ace in the hole. Write a 3 sentence paragraph about spaced out Ron, and draw about 5 comments. MHNs, one topic. Toni ought to write about his problems with the law, how about Cobarde???
What problems? serious stuff? Chapa shuld come clean. he can't be calling out people in city government if he is not clean! Sonso
Ron lozano is a nobody in town. Why should we care what this guy does? No context. those other blogs are stupid to give this guy any press. ignore his butt!
Leftwich will never be mayor of Harlingen. He has made far too many enemies.
"Ignore his butt," I agree, this guy is the most dislike guy, next to Toni "El cobarde" Champaneco. He just drives around town, for all we know, he doesn't even work.
"Will never be Mayor", look he has more power as a commissioner, than as the Mayor. Boswell is just a balloon of hot air.
The rumor is Kingi Kanute will no longer blog on "El Cobarde," Toni Chapis, Chaparron. The word at the breakfast table, was that he was fed up, with lies, and B/S put out at that bas%^$%&rds blog. (Good for Him), now lets work on Ken Benton.
Robert Leftwich used to be a pal of Tony Chapa. Will he go on record as saying he's done with that blog? He says it; I vote for him. Chapa will get you beaten at the polls, sir.
I am sure Robert sees the writing on the wall. Anyone who associates with Champaneco, is bound for failure.
Everyone is running away from him. Robert Leftwich, Guz Ruiz, Joey Trevino, and Jerry Prep., please boycott Chapas blog. It isn't worth a sh*&t.
I believe Boswell won't respond, he thinks he is bad, he isn't, just a local politician with baggage Like Toni Chapis, "El cobarde". And toni knows it.
Mr. Editor, The Tribune is doing good work for the community. I thank you, sir.
Korry won't respond, she is afraid to open her mouth, everytime she says something, she gets in problems.
Besides that crazy woman has no credibility, with all those tax problems. She is probably hiding in a watering hole, trying to forget, la vida loca.
Like Anthony Chapas, "el cobarde," hiding behind hsi pathetic rag line blog, holding with his girlfriend.
That Roger Ortiz has no shame, after all the crap he pulled. He is an embarrassment for Cameron county.
You mean Chapis refuse to cooperate with the local police in Harlingen, man, no wonder he is always putting the cops down. Is there any more to the story? He was chicken, no wonder Liza called him "el Cobarde," chaparron.
Mr. Editor Thank you for telling us about our next mayor. Robert L. is a good man, that cares about the working people.
Mr. Editor, the regualars at las casuelas, are speaking; the comments, "anyone but Morales", not very good comments from former employees of Donna.
I don't think Rick, can win, no sir, a $300.000 debacle with the Donna bridge will cause Harlingen voters second thoughts. The man has too much baggage.
Good post, missed it the last time,
the election is quiet bit away yet, it's in 2013.
At mi Rancho, lots of talk about elected officials, good comments about Jerry Prep. and Joey Trevino.
Some unkind comments were heard about some character from Donna, who is being groomed by a local blog to be Harlingen's mayor. From what I hear, I don't think he can muster support.
SONIA:...We published our thoughts on Mssr. Rick Morales and will repost it here in the next few days. It is our feeling that Harlingen can do better than opt for a retread tire. This is the time for the city to be grooming its young people. Perhaps such a resident will surface soon and close the curtain on Harlingen's past... - Editor
Side Bar: Man many of the old stars are dying. Matt Dillon, now this man. I remember him when I was in School, didn't Barreta, robert blake died as well??
Word at Panchito's from one of the regulars, an on line harlingen blog might have been the caused Casiano lost the election.
Strong comments were heard against Rick, and I quote, from Fred a morning regular, "if he thinks that because he is a hispanic, he can dance in here and screw Harlingen, think again."
Wow, thats what we like to here.
Agree, we don't want used worn out politicians who look after themselves only. Out with the old, and in with the new. Re-thread tires, a la basura.
Peter Faulk dead, man most of these actors are old, wasn't Matt Dillon in his 90's. One problem, most of today's actors aren't all that great, most of them are involved in drugs or are alcholics, Linsay Lohan is a good example.
So Mr. Editor, does this means, people can go get married in New York city, all they have to say that they are gay???
I don't get it, what if two 17 year old girls want to get married, the state will issue a marriage license. Sounds creepy.
The word around town is that an operator who runs a funky blog in Harlingen, yes, kind of dorky looking, might move to New York city. I believe one of his bloggers proposed to him, I think his name is Joke, and has plan the honeymoon in an old ford, that has no a/c.
I hear, another blogger, who has the face like that of a dried up prune, is going to be the best man.
Anon, I think they are married, some passionate comments were written by the dork, to some character name Sidro and junito. He was thanking them, about supporting him, or something to that effect.
I think, Joke wrote on another blog, how he dreamed of being with this huge ugly fat woman, someone called her Sholona.
Bloggers are saying she eats one gallon of Menudo and three, listen to this, large Barbacoa taquones.
Strange three-some with this funky characters. Weird, New York city, here we go.
Anon: (word around town), is this jakie the fool, the one that writes nothing but profanities about homosexuals.
Didn't he write that he wanted, Chingona with the dork, in the back of his car, at a drive inn.
The man sounds like a misfit, or a pervert.
Is the dork the one that operates a rag line blog in Harlingen??? I have been hearing all kinds of stuff, at el Rancho rest. No one likes him there, he thinks they do, but they don't they laugh at him, seriously.
My mother taught me to never say anything about a person unless I could say something nice. Following those teachings; I will say that Leftwich has a lovely wife and sweet daughters.
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