An Open Letter to the residents of Eagle Pass and Maverick County, Texas regarding local elections
Dear Eagle Pass and Maverick County Residents:
It is that time of year in which we again are asked to vote for someone running for political office in a national, state, or local election. It is not now nor should it ever be my place to encourage you to vote for a particular candidate or political party. Our American Constitution allows any qualified person to run for the political office of their choice and we as registered voters to vote for whomever we want. During the past few years, many Eagle Passans and Maverick Countians have complained on numerous occasions concerning the imposition of higher property taxes, corruption among some local publicly elected officials, widespread graft among local governmental officials or employees, lack of progress within the community, the high unemployment rate in Maverick County, the lack of employment opportunities for our educated children and U.S. Veterans because of nepotism and political influences instead of true qualifications of applicants, the approval of deficit budgets or loss of significant public monies by the poor administration of our resources by publicly elected officials, publicly elected or public leaders enriching themselves through public service and/or on taxpayers’ monies, and many more complaints concerning the poor quality of publicly elected leaders or their failure to represent the residents in our best interests.
Now is the time for every Eagle Pass and Maverick County resident to seriously review each and every candidate seeking our vote for either national, state, or local office. It is each voter’s duty and obligation to meet and interview each candidate or as many candidates as possible before deciding whom to vote for. Each voter or resident must ask themselves which candidates will work for the best interests of taxpayers, our children, and our community, not for their personal profit or gain. Ask yourself, who really is genuinely interested in helping us the residents of Maverick County, and, who is really interested in making money for themselves or seeking to promote their self-interests before deciding whom to vote for.
If a candidate is seeking re-election, ask yourself, what has this candidate done for you and the community during their past tenure. Do they deserve to be re-elected or booted out of office? If it is a new candidate, ask yourself what are the qualifications of this candidate and their past experience in work, education, or community projects? What programs do they propose and how do they plan to pay for the programs or policies they seek? Are they for a balanced budget, lowering or increasing property taxes, and willing to fulfill the Oath of Office they take to follow the laws and constitution of the United States and State of Texas? Which candidate is sincere and for real and which ones are followers, puppets, or egotistical? Do not be afraid to ask these important questions of each candidate or publicly elected official. Remember, once elected they work for us, not for their personal financial gain or profit or whomever financed their campaign. They are required to answer our questions instead of hiding and running away from us. Nobody asked them to run for public office. If they run for public office and get elected, they should know and understand that they represent us, not themselves.
Every resident and voter must think of these things before deciding for whom to vote. Consider the best possible candidate for our community and children in every race or position. Vote for someone that will really represent the best interests of our community and children. Look for someone you actually believe will benefit the community and help it grow in the best way possible. Someone that will do everything to ensure our children get the best education possible. Someone who will actually do everything they can to prepare your child for “life’s hard knocks.” Someone who truly wants to help the community prosper and grow with better paying jobs and employment opportunities. Someone who will hire the best qualified candidates for public jobs instead of using political influences. Someone that will have you and your family in mind when making decisions that will affect us all and not think of their personal profit or financial gain first.
When a candidate runs for political office, they do so while acknowledging a desire to do something to improve the community. They must take an oath of office where they promise to uphold the laws and constitution of the United States and State of Texas, accepting a fiduciary responsibility with the taxpayers and residents. Recently, we have been victims of corrupt and unscrupulous public elected officials who violated their Oaths of Office and engaged in elaborate schemes and conspiracies to accept bribes, kickbacks, and personally profit from public taxpayers monies. Some of them are now convicted and serving long prison terms.
We must be vigilant that the current candidates running for office or in office do not fall in similar criminal activities to the detriment of Eagle Pass and Maverick County residents. Do not allow current publicly elected officials or candidates tell you for whom to vote. The right to vote is your personal privilege guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and the many men and women whom have fought, and some who paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives, to defend your right to vote and maintain a democratic form of government. Do not allow anyone to give you a folded yellow sample ballot marked for whom to vote for like I personally witnessed this Saturday, October 29, 2016. Your vote is only meant for you to decide and cast your ballot. Do not become a follower, a puppet, or an instrument of a political group or candidate to decide for you for whom to vote. America is a free country and the right to vote is your personal freedom and liberty. “Your vote is your voice,” proclaimed former American Civil Rights and Voting Rights leader Willie Velasquez.
Some important races in the November 8, 2016 General Election include the U.S. Presidential Election between Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican Party candidate Donald Trump; for U.S. Representative, District 23, between Democrat Pete P. Gallego, Republican Will Hurd, and Libertarian Ruben S. Corvalan; State Senator, District 19, between Democrat Carlos I. Uresti, Republican Peter P. Flores, and Libertarian Maximilian Martin; Justice of the Texas 4th Court of Appeals between Democrat Irene Rios and Republican Jason Pulliam; and Maverick County Sheriff between Democrat Tom Schmerber and Republican Anthony Ramirez.
Other local races of great interest include for Eagle Pass Independent School District Board of Trustees Place No. 1 between Jorge Barrera, Juan Jose “Pachi” Olivares, Ronnie Rivera, and Ricardo “Riche” Lopez; for Place No. 2 between Christopher Hiller and Ignacio “Nacho” Saucedo; for Place No. 6 between Carmen Ravenna and Hector Alvarez; and for Place No. 7 between Glenna Purcell and Carmen Schmerber-Garcia; and the Maverick County Hospital District Board of Directors (3 positions) between Ricardo “Rica” Calderon, Rebecca “Becky” Robinson, Maria L. Forth, Gravis Ray Bibb, David Land, J. Galizia, Jesus Casas, and J.M. “Chuco” Farias.
In the Eagle Pass Independent School District, I have personally taken on the task of confronting the EPISD on issues that many of us in the community see as incorrect, and in some cases in clear violation of law, such as allowing non-residents to be registered as “District Residents.” Some community residents prefer not to get involved on this issue because they themselves or a relative of theirs work for the EPISD and are afraid to possibly lose their jobs due to retaliation or vengeance. I understand their concerns, but believe they are in error. Inconformity is a staple of our country. We went to war with Britain due to “taxation without representation”. Don’t tell me they don’t teach about the “Boston Tea Party” at EPISD!
I have provided documentation to the EPISD concerning legal precedent cases Martinez v. Bynum, (https://www.britannica.com/topic/Martinez-v-Bynum) and Arredondo v. Brockett (http://www.leagle.com/decision/1979694482FSupp212_1669/ARREDONDO%20v.%20BROCKETTE). Both Martinez and Arredondo legal cases were argued in the U.S. Court of Appeals of the 5th Circuit and found to be In accordance with law. I have requested that school employees be posted in close proximity to the Port of Entry to identify and question students to determine if they are foreign students attending school and not paying tuition. I have been informed by members of the EPISD School Board that it is a Civil Rights Violation. I argue to the contrary. It cannot be a Civil Rights Violation if the employee is performing his or her job and enforcing Texas law. I have been informed that this periodically happens at other crossings along the border. (Presidio and Del Rio).
I have provided the EPISD Board guidance and specific documents from TEA that state in no uncertain terms (Student Attendance Accounting Handbook) A student who does not reside in Texas is not entitled to enroll in a Texas public school under TEC, § 25.001, on the basis of another person’s residency, including the residency of the students parent or grandparent.) Note: This does not appear in this manner in the 2015-2016 Handbook but in checking with TEA investigators, they state this still applies.
EPISD School Board Members contend that a Legal GUARDIANSHIP Document, unsigned by the Court, is valid if signed by a Notary Public to determine a student’s residency for public school. I can find no indication of this. EPISD School Board also contends that the use of an Authorization for Nonparent Relative (Form 2638 available on the DFPS website.) signed by a parent and relative and notarized is valid under Chapter 34 of the Family Code. Again, I find this incorrect for this applies to children under a parental child safety placement agreement under the protection of the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) and applies only with a grandparent, adult sibling, or adult aunt or uncle. (I have found said documents signed by friend.) Unless, of course, the EPISD Board wishes to argue and certify that all these students fall under the Family Code, DFPS, in which case I would be very happy to call the San Antonio Office to place them in child protective custody.
EPISD School Board insists that several forms they have on the EPISD website are legal forms to determine a student’s residency just because they are signed by a notary public. They seem to forget that a notary public in the US only attests to the validity of the signature and not to the content of the document. If the School Board is of the opinion that we are incorrect in our assessment and are harassing them, we welcome them to take us to task. They have the resources to do so. I genuinely believe the EPISD needs to legally enforce the residency requirements for a public student to attend and receive a free public education in Eagle Pass and the State of Texas at taxpayers’ expense.
It is not my intention to tell any voter for whom to vote in any contested election in the November 8, 2016 Ballot, but rather to remind them to please make a conscious decision to the betterment of our community, our children, and make their own independent and free decision for which candidates will genuinely represent WE THE PEOPLE of Eagle Pass and Maverick County, not their personal financial interests. Please don’t sit on your hands and do nothing. VOTE TO YOUR BENEFIT! Don’t vote for someone that doesn’t benefit you, your children, and our community.
Early Voting Period is from October 31-November 4 at the Eagle Pass Multi-Purpose Center from 7 AM-7PM and Election Day is November 8, 2016 at designated polling places from 7 AM-7PM.
Sincerely,
Albert Daniel, Individual Eagle Pass and Maverick County Resident, Taxpayer & Voter.
Retired U. S. Army and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Officer
Eagle Pass, Texas
