HD 40: Pena Uses Campaign Kickoff To Speak Out On Valley Corruption
By Vince Leibowitz on Nov 12, 2007 in 2008 Texas Elections
Rarely, if ever, do you see a politician from the Rio Grande Valley speak out about the corruption that has plagued the region for the last century, and continues to be evident in places like Edcouch-Elsa ISD within the last year.
State Rep. Aaron Pena (D-Edinburg), however, is one of the few speaking out on the issue, and evidently even stunned his supporters by being so vocal:
A boisterous crowd of supporters went silent at Peña’s campaign kickoff when the three-term House member said he would fight corruption in the Delta. Peña said the BEE and DACO club leaders had asked him to speak out.
“I make this a pledge: that next session I’m going to work really hard so that we provide honest and decent government for all our kids. No longer will we have a tax on the poor; no longer will this hidden tax come and affect us. We will work together to better our community and I hope you stand with me in that effort,” Peña said. The crowd applauded.
Interviewed afterwards, Peña said the first thing anyone could do is recognize there is a problem and the second is to speak out. On the legislative front, he said the committee he chairs, Criminal Jurisprudence, could hold a hearing on the issue.
“Our community has taken remarkable strides towards the future,” Peña said. “The economic advances, growth and prosperity of the borderlands is unparalleled in Texas history. With such growth come greater expectations. It is essential that illegal corruption be rooted out from our public discourse. True success will not come unless our moral growth matches our economic growth.”
Peña said he agreed with Flores and Garza that businesses will not locate in the Delta if the political leadership is lacking.
“Business and the jobs they bring demand a stable political environment,” Peña said. ‘They and the wonderful people of our community should not be carrying the added tax that comes from public corruption. As charged by the leaders of this community it is my intention to use every resource at my disposal to bring good and honest government to the people I serve.”
I’m not surprised a hush fell over the crowd. It’s so rare that anyone is brave enough to speak about what happens in some Valley local governments it was probably a stunning experience.
Pena faces Edinburg engineer Eddie Saenz in the March Democratic Primary.
Maybe instead of just railing against corrupiton, Pena should rail against bad government? Of course, then he might have to explain his Craddick vote.