By PATRICK ALCATRAZ
Editor
HARLINGEN, Texas - There was an empty chair at City Hall last night. Again, as has happened more than a few times, City Commissioner Kori Marra failed to show for her elected duties. On a day when some in town called for her resignation following the lodging of ethics violations charges against her by the Cameron County District Attorney's Office, Ms. Marra opted to absent herself for the regularly scheduled meeting of the commission.
That surprising decision by the commissioner, short of it being related to a serious health problem, will not sit well with her stunned constituents in District 3, or with the community at large. Marra is not saying much, choosing to speak in short, crisp responses that offer no clue as to her mindset or her political plans. Will she resign, or will she merely lock-in and set sail a battle plan?
Nothing at City Hall indicates a movement by her fellow commissioners to ask her to bow out.
And even as she holes-up, Marra also wears the weight of a complaint filed against her related to problems with her campaign finance report filings. That one is being reviewed by the state agency overseeing compliance by elected officials seeking to retain their office and those who wish to unseat them.
"I'm sure you read today's Valley Morning Star ethics issue with Kori not filing some 5 required campaign finance reports," said a well-placed source at City Hall. "Including this last report, where she took $600 from a McAllen based PAC headed up by another ReMax operator from the McAllen area - a person who just happened to be seeking money from the Harlingen EDC (Economic Development Corporation)."
And it really wasn't the contribution that led to her problems; it was, as was put to us: "...just the money she didn't report on her campaign report." Collectively, it all smells. Commissioner Marra's close-to-the-vest style of politics bodes badly for her constituents and for the city as a whole. What it does, said one wag, is put images of total mistrust on the minds of the voters.
But that, too, is politics. Some politicians hurry and release all pertinent data to do with a congtroversy, while others go ostrich and bury their heads in the sand, thinking that perhaps to not hear the noise is to not acknowledge it. Maybe that's what Marra is contemplating, although who knows?
Our insider would not venture a reply about the possibility of a Marra resignation, but what he said was this: "Regardless, she has been turned in for not reporting it with the Texas Ethics Commission, as was reported in today's paper..."
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[Editor's Note: In receiving the $600 contribution from TREPAC last fall, Marra was joined in the hand-out by Harlingen Mayor Chris Boswell, who also got $600, and Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos who received $1,000 from the real estate PAC...]
36 comments:
Exellent, exellent article. Better than most. thanks again. Was waiting on it all morning.
So she took the TREPAC money and then voted in favor of them on city stuff? Is that it? She needs to speak out, dude. Wow!!! Sick, man, sick
Chapaneco is the worst gadfly! Sonso.
If MARRA speaks openly and honestly, the voters of her district would stand by her. It's not over, boys.
I say let her have her day in court. If she is indicted that's another ballgame. Let's see where it goes before we hang the lady.
Poor Korri, she needs to hire a p.r. agency, everytime she opens her mouth, she only gets in more problems.
Thank you H.E.A.T it was one of your member, who filed the criminal complaint.
The Real Estate Industry in Harlingen, needs to be exposed. I bet they are members of the Harlingen, (Screw the city and enrich our pockets) Chamber of Commerce.
Thank You, Mr. Chuck Lee, who took the information to the VMS, who has refused to follow up on good information concerning wrong doing. The Realtors of Harlingen, are worst than used car sales people.
Patrick, good article, H.E.A.T is still setting itself up. These political action groups have to register with the state of texas. And they have to account for everything, too many rules. But for the sake of democracy, grassroot citizens will do whatever, is necessary to change business as usual in Harlingen. GET ELECTED AND SCREW THE TAX-PAYERS OF HARLINGEN. OR THAT'S WHAT KORRI THOUGHT.
HEAT needs to be professional. we don't need a dozen vatos out raising hell. That's not this game, no sir.
By the way, who is Chuck lee? what does he do in town? Anyone know? Is he Old Guard, New Guard or Who Knows What Guard?
Mr. Editor, don't forget. HEAT needs to drop Chapaneco like a hot potato. That guy is jinxed. Bad for politics. Has Big dawg said Chapaneco is not part of HEAT? he better.
Never heard of TREPAC. Thanks for the info. real estate people with a PAC? Must be a popular thing with everybody these days.
again Chapaneco has nothing today. poor fool. he wishes he could write. Has no nose for news. no worth the time. No one goes to his blog and no one posts. Chapaneco, you suck!
Does anyone have the details as to how much money the McAllen Realtor was asking from the EDC?....and for what reason?
HEAT is not associated with Myharlingennews, or Champaneco for that matter.
HEAt is an independent, all purpose PAC, who only wants good transperant goverment.
And thank you Mr. Editor of the Trib, for reporting on Harlingen, your writings are superbed
and we support your blog, 110%.
Chuck lee? never heard of him. whatshe do? anything? Nothing, huh? Figures.
Chuck Lee is a citizen of Harlingen who is heading the de-annexation project. Mr. Lee is a good retired property owner from Wisconsin. Hard working American, who believes in fair and open goverment.
HEAT is comprised of retired people and business citizens.
Who believe Harlingen can do better, Jerry Prep. city commissioner was las month guest speaker. Good descent organization, grassroots, no special interest groups, ordinary people, plain and simple.
Henry G. Starting a PAC is a little more work than people think. The bookeeping has to be in mint conditions. None of this Korry, (Oh, I forgot") stuff. We are more professional than that.
In harlingen like any other city, the real estate industry has their hands in many areas of city goverment.
I recalled when a water Board member was removed in harlingen. Some jerk, who just moved to Harlingen and was a member of Harlingen board of realtors was complaining why they weren't notified. As if the commission required their approval.
Listen you bastards, you have had it to good for a long time. But now is now, and we won't put up with your bullshit anymore. Sorry Mr. Editor, but the truth is the truth and it has to be said.
cool. I'll back HEAT if I se eit is doing god work. Hooking up with Chapa would be joining his racist ways and I would be against that. I'll be watching.
Why wouldn't Marra report that contribution? It seems an easy thing to do. Crazy. But maybe the campaigning is that busy. and that Radle woman looks like the governor of Arizona. Weird.
ANONS & OTHER COMMENTERS:...Thanks for the questions posted to each other. I, too, have no idea who Chuck Lee is. But we got good info after the question was posted, perhaps even from Mr. Lee. And, yes, we agree that HEAT does not need the assistance of anyone pushing hate and racism. Indeed, we wish HEAT great success. Our opinion of the RGV real estate industry is not a good one. It is unfortunate that this once-noble profession has begun to earn a reputation no different than that of used car lot operators. But money is king to some people. Houses must be built and sold. Land changes hands. Business needs have to be met. So, all we can hope for is a little ethical behavior from these professionals whose unrestrained greed is perhaps better known than their skill... - Editor
Super reporting by The Tribune. And not one press release or backslapping some retail store's Grand Opening. No propaganda here that's for sure. Thanks.
Well, we are learning why Harlingen has so many problems, so the old guard and the real estate industry are benefiting themselves raping the city's coffers. Sound like every town in the Valley, I been hearing some weird stories from Ed Couch Elsa's school board.
Welcome to South Texas.
Henry G. rest assure, HEAT is not a racist PAC, we have members from the Tea Party who are supporting HEAT.
We are open to anyone in the Valley, and the fees are only $40.00 a year. Chapamanecno and MHN's have no influence with HEAT. Chapaneco, has publically stated he wishes for this PAC to fail.
Poor Korri, missed last weeks meeting. We wonder why, I hear, some of the people in the meeting were going to ask her to resign publically.
Anon, the word is that she hails from West Texas, in a political rally she told voters her father was an elected county law enforcement elected official.
The first time that she ran, her opposition was Bobby Farris, and she lost.
But she campaign again and beat Tom Hushen when the city went into SMDs. Since then she has fallen on hard times.
Why are drone airplanes flying into Mexico? Is it to deal with the drug dealers?? Man they have a revolution down there. I haven't gone to Matamoros in more than 3 years.
To bad for the guys that are in jail or death row, but damn the state is cutting everywhere. I guess it was a matter of time. Heck, they are cutting the school budget funding.
Okay fellow bloggers, Guess who is blogging on Jerry Deal's blog??
El burro del chamamenco, yes Tony Chapa himself. Since he doesn't get any comments on his blog.
So Mr. Alcatraz, for all we know he is blogging on the Tribune. What a loser, Toni Chanamenco, you are a loser, viejo pendejo.
Sessi, chapaneco is saying he has lost the battle. No one is going to his blog to post. Not Jerry Deal or Patrick alcatraz. He is the loser and that's what he is telling us. Chapenco's blog is no. 3, last place. LOL!
He is behind the Chickenbucket.blogspot, I would say he is 4th or 5th. Even Montoya's blog gets more hits than Chapaneco's rag line blog.
He is finished, we knew it, his attitude turned a lot of people off.
Only Jakie and Juan Ortega and Maybe Benson blog there, anyone with a little brains ignores that idiot.
So now are elected officials are going after NPR. The aholes, can't seem to wade themselves out of the mess. The George Bush Administration left behind, dumb assess.
They ought to cut their salaries and benefits, instead of npr. John Behner makes $194.000 a year, just to say no to everything. The SAN Antonio Express reported Kay Baleiy H. is going to make around $140.000 on retirement, damn this bastards are bankrupting the US goverment. And she was trying to unseat Rick Perry, not he is any better.
Rick Perry rents a house in a trendy Austin Neighborhood for $10.000 a month.
Guess who wanted to keep living of the Tax payers, yep, Kay B.Hutchinson. Living of the Tax payers again. Rick Perry makes: $120.000 a year plus benefits as Governor.
By the way, it is the Texas "Tax payers" who pay Rick Perry's house rent in the up scale neighborhood.
Plus he has a chef to, can you belive this ahole. Bandidos.
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