What Has Watts Promised The Valley? Machine Politics?
By Vince Leibowitz on Jul 8, 2007 in Uncategorized
I read with great interest this story in the Rio Grande Guardian (scroll down…this is an archives search page) discussing Hidalgo County Democratic Party Chair Juan Maldonado opining about how State Rep. Rick Noriega (D-Houston) should leave the U.S. Senate race and clear the field for millionaire Mikal Watts:
“It’s a difficult one because I have always been one that has always promoted Hispanic/Latino candidates. I think Noriega is a tremendous candidate. I like him and I am going to try very hard to encourage him to run for another position statewide,†Maldonado said.
“Those of us in South Texas are committed to Mikal Watts. Rick Noriega is a fine gentleman, a good leader, Latino, we want him. But let’s see if we can do maybe Railroad Commission or maybe he might want to step in when Mario Gallegos steps aside. Those are the kinds of things we want to recommend to him.â€
First of all, it’s entertaining that Maldonado is already committed to a candidate, much less that it is Watts. There are still rumors floating around that someone who is actually from the Valley may make a run for the race. In fact, I keep hearing that one of the more prominent political machines in the Valley is desperate to run a Valley candidate and is still looking for someone from the Valley to make the race.
Second, why would he commit to Watts? My Valley contacts tell me word “on the street there” is that Watts’ promise to pour hundreds of thousands if not millions of his own money into “statewide” GOTV was tailor-made for the Rio Grande Valley. Why? Because the structure of some of the political machines there that do a lot of “GOTV” often determine their support for particular candidates based upon which candidate promises the most resources, which can in turn be used to help hike turnout in contested local races.
In addition, it is very curious that this Valley County Chair would want to stick his hand in Harris County politics and be so bold as to tell Noriega what positions he should run for.
I’m also curious about all this “support” Watts allegedly has in the Valley. How’d he suddenly get such support unless they are referring to “machine” support? To say that Watts gets support over a Latino candidate like Noriega (or any Latino candidate, for that matter) is almost naive–unless there is a “machine” element already playing in here.
Finally, that he even mentions the position of “Railroad Commissioner” for Noriega shows one or more of several of things: (1) that Maldonado doesn’t have a true grasp for Rick Noriega’s potential; (2) that Maldonado was being deliberately insulting to Noriega by suggesting he run for, of all things, Railroad Commission; and/or (3) that Maldonado was, perhaps, simply trying to generate headlines.
I’ve never been moved to post on this website, but felt the need to respond to this post. While I haven’t made up my mind in the Senate race, I find the need to respond to your insinuation of something almost sinister in my native Valley.
I’m not sure why you would find it out of the ordinary that a person who is obvious “political” (as are most if not all of the County Chairman) would be committed to a guy (Watts) who is from South Texas, has been involved in South Texas politics, and has obviously been making the rounds. Is it beyond your comprehension that a Latino would support anyone other than a Latino. Do you consider us so simple minded that we can’t see beyond someone’s last name when deciding who we support. According to your theory, Lloyd Dogget would have never won his Congressional race when Delay and company redistricted him into the Valley. And Sen Shapleigh would never get elected in El Paso. And Phil Hardeberger would never have become Mayor in San Antonio.
You insult me and all Latinos with your thinking.
Second your point about Watts bringing resources to the table to help get Democrats elected is probably on point, and a factor in people supportuing him. It’s one of the reasons I would consider him. Why go down the path we’ve been down for years of selecting Democratic nominees who won’t have the resources to compete in Nov ‘08, and someone at the top of the ticket that can bring resources to help Democrats up and down the ballot is even better.
I agree with you that the Hidalgo County Democratic Chair has no business in Houston politics, and I hope Mario Gallegos is representing his district in the Texas Senate for years to come.
However, as to why Rick Noriega’s name might come up in relation to the RR Commission, perhaps it has to do with the fact that he has been a lobbyist for a power company, and knows that busines, and the RRC has more to do with the Oil and Gas business than any other agency. Maybe you’ve never made that connection, but to any of us who have watched Rick’s career, and know his background, it doesn’t seem that far-fetched. Also as a candidate for RRC, he could probably raise a whole lot more money (no limits) and the RRC is not a bad place to serve and run for higher office (just ask John Sharp).
And finally, you talk about this “Machine” politics and I can almost see the venom spewing from your fingers. Although I no longer live in the Valley, I was very involved in politics down there for a long time. Whenever I hear of “Machine” politics, I have to roll my eyes. I’d be interested in hearing all about your experience with “Machine” politics in the Valley. Other than reading about it in Chicago, and places like that, I had no experience with it in my 20+ years of Valley politics.
As in any other region where there are large numbers of voters, and elected officials, there are political factions. There are “players”. Some raise money, some organize camapigns (as volunteers or as consultants) and others just go out and support their favorite candidates. As the saying goes, politics makes for strange bedfellows, and this happens in the Valley, as much as anywhere else. Your political ally today, may be your political opponent tomorrow.
But Machine politics, I don’t think we’ve ever been that organized.