Friday, July 20, 2018
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Vol. 46 No. 49
Former Mayor Beto Salinas files lawsuit, claims bribery and voter fraud marred Mission election by Dave Hendricks Former Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas filed a lawsuit Wednesday, claiming that bribery and voter fraud tainted the Mission mayoral runoff — and requesting a new election. Beto Salinas filed the lawsuit against current Mayor Armando “Doc” O’caña on Wednesday afternoon. The lawsuit accuses O’caña’s campaign workers of bribing voters, manipulating mail-in ballots and recruiting non-residents to register in Mission. “The question is: Is it big enough to change the outcome of this race?” said attorney Rick Salinas, the former mayor’s son. “Is it big enough to trigger a new election?” Beto Salinas said his attorneys advised him not to comment on the case. Reached by the Progress Times on Wednesday afternoon, O’caña said he hadn’t been served with the lawsuit and couldn’t immediately comment on the litany of allegations. However, O’caña said he wasn’t aware of any illegal activity during the campaign and didn’t pay anyone to vote. Beto Salinas won 49.96 percent of 6,175 ballots cast during the May 5 mayoral election — three votes short of a majority. O’caña placed second. Mission scheduled a runoff election for June 9. “It seems three very unlikely things happened within 34 days: 1) more than one hundred voters decided that they had become residents of Mission, Texas and changed their voter registration just to take part in this election, 2) a run-off election in the dire heat of a Texas summer suddenly experiences earth-shattering turnout, and 3) a candidate that had barely broken 40% in the previous election won,” according to the lawsuit. “There are dozens of possible explanations for this outcome. Some may be legal. Some are unequivocally not.” O’caña won 51.16 percent of 6,793 ballots cast during the runoff election, defeating Beto Salinas by 157 votes. After the runoff, voters approached Beto Salinas with stories about bribery and illegal voting, according to the lawsuit. Rick Salinas and the former mayor’s supporters started investigating. “There are people that have given affidavits,” Rick Salinas said. “And there are people that have been recorded.” They identified dozens of people with suspicious voter
Norberto “Beto” Salinas registrations, Rick Salinas said. Dozens more claimed O’caña campaign workers paid them to vote or tampered with their mail-in ballots. “What was uncovered was a systemic and flagrant scheme to cast illegal votes to elect Mayor Ocana. Dozens of voters have admitted to being paid for their votes. Scores of voters fraudulently changed their registrations to the City of Mission and voted by mail. And, still others never touched their mailin ballot and had their vote harvested and stolen from them,” according to the lawsuit. “These allegations are salacious. They are devastating. And, they will be proven true.” The lawsuit also accused O’caña himself of illegal voting. “Just like many of his voters, Dr. Ocana and his wife, Maria De Jesus Ocana, do not reside in Mission, Texas,” according to the lawsuit. “They are registered to vote at 927 Greenlawn in Mission, which is a home measuring 1,302 square feet, with six people registered to the home: Armando Ocana, Jr., Armando Ocana, Maria De Jesus Ocana, Spring Ocana, Mathew Ocana, and Margarita Ocana. All these people claim to reside in the Greenlawn home, plus their children. The true residence of Dr. Ocana and his wife is outside the city limits of Mission, Texas, on Schuerback (sic) Rd.” During the campaign, Beto Salinas made similar claims about where O’caña lived. Attorneys familiar with Texas election law, though, said they didn’t think Beto Salinas could successfully challenge O’caña's residency. With the Texas Attorney General’s Office aggressively investigating voter fraud, Rick Salinas said he believes the civil lawsuit will result in criminal prosecutions. “I think it’s about time that somebody says something” about voter fraud, Rick Salinas said. “And that instead of ignoring it that we do something about it.”
5x5 Brewing Co. officially opens doors to public By Jamie Treviño For the Sumner family, supporting a local veteran-owned and operated brewery was a great way to spend a Saturday. Drawing crowds from all over the Rio Grande Valley last Saturday, the 5x5 Brewing Company held a ribbon cutting ceremony at their location, which is connected to the Mission Center for Education and Economic Development at 801 N Bryan Rd. The event featured five kinds of craft beers made at 5x5, and people had the option to purchase a beer card for $25, and use it for five beers. There was also a $40 option, which included a special 5x5 pint glass. Live music played throughout the afternoon and evening, and food trucks were also present. The opening included a flyover of two vintage military planes
in celebration of the veteran-owned business. Gregory and Belinda Sumner and their son Greg
were drinking 5x5 Brunette Bombshell beers outside as the event began. Gregory and Belinda, who live in
Mission, are U.S. Marine Corps veterans. They expressed their support for the
See 5x5 OPENING Pg. 8
Two vintage military planes circled the Mission CEED Building as a featured flyover during the official opening of the 5x5 Brewing Company to the public last Saturday. Progress Times photo by Jamie Treviño.
Mission PD holds pinning ceremony for promoted officers By Jamie Treviño
Last Friday, the Mission Police Department held a
pinning ceremony for four newly promoted officers at
(from left) Mission Police Department Chief Robert Dominguez, Police Corporal Mario Monforte, Police Sergeant Orlando Cedillo, Police Lieutenant Javier Ramon and Assistant Police Chief Jody Tittle after the pinning ceremony held at the Mission City Hall last Friday. Photo courtesy of the City of Mission.
the Mission City Hall. The police officers who were promoted were new Assistant Police Chief Jody Tittle, Police Lieutenant Javier Ramon, Police Sergeant Orlando Cedillo and Police Corporal Mario Monforte. Surrounded by family and friends, the men were thanked and congratulated by Chief Robert Dominguez, who spoke about their accomplishments and service for the city. “I know how special it is after all the hard work and dedication,” Dominguez said. “These young men and women that we have in our organization work hard and have dedicated years and have struggled to climb the ladder of success, it’s not
See PINNING CEREMONY Pg. 12
“Not your grandfather’s Rotary”
By Jamie Treviño
For two of the active members of The Rotary Club of Mission, Guadalupe “Lupita” Ramirez and April Chapa, the international organization allows them to give back and have fun at the same time. Both women have been active in rotary for about three years each. Ramirez, who was the active president of the club last year, reflected on the many projects the group undertakes throughout the year. “The most important thing is that people who have a lot of passion can give back to the community,” Ramirez said. “It has to come from the heart.” The rotary helps children, veterans, families and the elderly. The volunteer organization regularly collaborates
with the Mission Consolidated Independent School District and the Sharyland Independent School District and is currently working on a project to get shoes for children in need. “It’s not your grandfather’s rotary anymore, it’s fun,” Chapa said. “It’s doing service while having fun, while meeting people and leaders in your community.” Annually, they donate Thanksgiving meals to veterans and families, and during Christmas they collect bags of gifts for the Casa Hogar San Vicente de Paul, an orphanage in Reynosa, Tamaulipas. In Mission, the rotary has booths at the National Night Out and Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Chapa, the current president, is aiming to continue
See ROTARY CLUB Pg. 8
Former Rotary President Guadalupe “Lupita” Ramirez (left) and current Rotary President April Chapa (right) hold the Rotary International wheel, said to symbolize “civilization, movement and service work in action.” Progress Times photo by Jamie Treviño.
INSIDE La Joya holds on grant
Palmview Election Preview
Team L1berty Split over school board
The City of La Joya recently tabled a resolution to accept the Operation Lone Star security grant program. For more details about why the city is in limbo, see our story by Dave Hendricks.
City councilman Rick Villarreal may run for the mayoral seat in the upcoming November elections for the City of Palmview. Dave Hendricks has the most recent news about the election.
The political party remains divided over the three seats up for grabs in the La Joya ISD Board of Trustees. Dave Hendricks brings the latest information, inside.
See Pg. 5
See Pg. 4
INDEX
Entertainment | pg. 2
Rio Script Pharmacy
Lifestyle | pg. 3
• Immunizations available year round – no appointment needed • 10 Minute Prescription Refills – By phone or in person • 90 day prescriptions available! • Specialty Compounding Available! • Full Line DME supplies and wheelchairs • Free Delivery Valley Wide ( now serving Rio Grande City and Roma) • All insurance welcome (Medicaid/medicare/workman’s comp/chips/private pay)
Obituaries | pg. 9
Apple Pharmacy #1 2501 N 23rd St B, McAllen 956-627-6652 Apple Pharmacy #2 810 E Veterans Dr. Palmview 956-352-6485 RioScript Pharmacy 2308 Expressway 83, Penitas 956-271-1064
See Pg. 12
Classifieds | pg. 10 Apple Pharmacy #3 (formerly Paloma’s Pharmacy) 909 Buss. Park Dr, Mission 956-424-6268
Your Friendly Neighborhood Pharmacy
* Free Valley Wide Delivery