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Sunday, September 2, 2001
Political pulse

   Rangel says talk of her withdrawal is simply hot air

Rangel

   Rumors about State Rep. Irma Rangel's political future began swirling last week around the campus of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
   An unidentified university source, who claimed to be in the know about Rangel's future, leaked information that the Kingsville Democrat was set to resign her position in the Legislature.
   Rangel, whose District 35 covers much South Texas ranchland, said the rumors are false and she already is running for re-election.
   She also tried to ease concerns that her health might force her to resign or end her campaign. Rangel has suffered from ovarian and breast cancer, but her doctors have given her the go-ahead to run for office, she said.
   "I've got the energy, and I've got the health," she said. "I've got nothing else to do."
   There's a possibility the rumors were born out of animosity. One of Rangel's most noted recent legislative successes was the passage of a bill establishing a school of pharmacy at Texas A&M-Kingsville.
   It will be the first professional development school in South Texas. The university in Corpus Christi is not in Rangel's district, and their jealousy might have contributed to the rumors, she said.
   "Of course they would do that," she said. "I didn't get them a college of pharmacy."
   Commissioners make hay with Schwing's new area

Schwing

   County Commissioner Frank Schwing made a point of dressing properly for his new district, which would include rural areas.
   Commissioners recently adopted redistricting plans that changed Schwing's district from one that was mostly in city limits to one that includes northwest Nueces County.
   He showed up at the commissioners meeting Wednesday in a cowboy hat and boots. This came after Commissioner Joe McComb suggested Schwing get a picture of a cow so he would know what one looked like.
   So McComb gave him an illustration of a melancholy-looking cow Wednesday with a caption that read, "Oh, my commissioner will take care of me now."
   Commissioner David Noyola gave him a picture of a storm ditch, Commissioner Oscar Ortiz gave a picture of a cracked county road and County Judge Richard Borchard gave a picture of senior citizens.
   "He better learn pretty fast, because he's going to learn what it means to represent people in rural areas," Noyola said, adding that he would put hay in Schwing's parking space for a horse.
   O'Brien dispels negative image with compliment
   The city's and county's favorite curmudgeon, Joe O'Brien, actually made a positive comment about a public official at Wednesday's commissioners meeting.
   O'Brien, a member of the Corpus Christi Taxpayers Association, said he wanted to dispel rumors that he never says anything nice about anyone.
   So he thanked County Attorney Laura Garza Jimenez for writing the city a letter urging it to drop the $5 fee for offense reports.
   She wrote the letter to City Manager David Garcia in response to a complaint by Jack Gordy. The city will now charge 10 cents for a report.
   "She deserves a compliment for that," O'Brien said.
   City manager misread firefighter graduates

Garcia

   City Manager David Garcia owes one of the city's newest firefighters a favor.
   Garcia was the featured speaker at Monday's Fire Academy graduation. During his speech to the graduating class, Garcia addressed them as men and women before correcting himself saying there were no women graduates.
   But there was one, Veronica Sanchez, and fire officials sitting on the stage behind Garcia quickly let him know.
   After most of the graduates had received their badges and made their way across the stage, Sanchez had her turn and shook hands with city and fire officials.
   The last hand in line was that of Garcia, who had a few words for Sanchez.
   Sanchez said Garcia offered to make it up to her.
   She jokingly suggested the key to the city or naming a day after her. But Garcia said he hadn't decided what the gesture would be.
   Trustee addresses board over letters to the editor
   Corpus Christi school board trustee Rene Vela took time out of Monday's board meeting to explain libel laws to the board.
   Vela stepped down from his post during the regularly scheduled meeting for just long enough to address the board as a resident of the district.
   He said he was very upset by recent letters to the editor written by another trustee criticizing the appointment of Miller Principal Yolanda Gonzalez.
   The letter, written by Trustee Harry Williams, called Gonzalez's appointment a conspiracy, and criticized new Superintendent Jesus Chavez and his decision to give Gonzalez the job.
   "Good Ole Boy politics remains in our district. The principal selection process is a cover-up for hidden agendas. Parents and voters, beware of what's happening in your school district," Williams wrote.
   Vela said trustees should vent to the board and not air such issues publicly in the media.
   Vela opened his comments by explaining libel laws, which are meant to protect people from being defamed in print - to the board as a whole, but looked only at Williams as he spoke.


This week's contributors include Neal Falgoust, Venessa Santos-Garza, Jason Ma and Mary Moreno. Political Pulse is compiled by Jason Ma, who can be reached at 886-3778 or maj@caller.com

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