The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 88, No. 18, Ed. 1 Wednesday, May 3, 2000 Page: 3 of 22
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Mercedes, Texas 78570 Wednesday, May 3, 2000
The Mercedes Enterprise — Page 3
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GOD’S FIVE MINUTES
THERE IS A TIME FOR EVERYTHING’ Eccles’astes 3:1. The Living Bible, Tyndale House
Alps Of The Christian Life
*R,
i
1 KEEP ON AsKING,
‘ AND THE GIFT
WILL BE GIVEN
g You;
PA KEEP ON SEEKING,
a AND You WILL FIND;
KEEP ON KNOCKING, AND THE DOOR
WILL OPEN 70 YOU "—MATT: 7:7(WM5.785.)
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This Series Made Possible by
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La Feria 78559 Mercedes 78570
(210) 797-3122 (210) 565-1175
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be
comforted" - St. Matthew 5:4
See us for towing, auto repairs
or welding!
JUAN'S WELDING
and Auto Service
2190 W. Business 83
565-3711
STUDENTS STAND OUT IN FEBRUARY - West
Elementary Pre-Kindergarten students shown here
were recognized as “Students of the Month” In
February. Students in the morning classes, shown
above, include, in front from left, Marie Annette
Medina, Laura Ashley Olivarez and Sebastian
Eduardo Guevara. In back, in same order, are
Olivia Closner, Israel Garcia Jr., Georginia Vicenta
Ramos and Victoria Gabriella VIIlarreal. Bottom
picture shows students from the afternoon classes.
They are, in front, Laura Lee Lopez, Crystal
Hernandez, Angel Mario Delgado and Jessica
Janet Rosales. In back are Roel Alvarado,
Veronica Rios and Christopher Vega. Not shown
is Alinna Gloria Gonzalez. (Enterprise Photos.)
DAT-M
Benjamin A. Salinas,
M. D., P.A.
Board Certified in Family Practice
801 West Second St. Mercedes
(9S6) 56S-6373
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
MARTINEZ GARAGE
565-4022
Comek
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PETE & BETO MARTINEZ 7
OWNERS SERVICE
103 S. Missouri Ave.______Mercedes 78570
Arts, Crafts, & Gift Shop
- Come & Visit Us -
(956) 565-2800
Dora Alaniz
- Owner -
Rt. 4 Box 161 - C
Mercedes, TX (Heidelberg)
Law offices of
Contreras-Pacheco
524 W. 2nd Street
(210) 565-5915 Mercedes, Texas
Licensed by the Texas Supreme Court
Not certified by Texas Board of Legal Specialization
SIGNS • SIGNS • SIGNS • SIGNS • SIGNS • SIGNS
All types of signs, from magnetic signs to Vinyl banners.
We also carry stone monuments. All at the best prices!
Call Best Price Monument
565-9552
A Letter to the Citizens of Mercedes:
I read with much interest an editorial entitled “Edgewood Majority at Stake in Election, in the
San Antonio Express News dated Thursday, April 27, 2000, and I believe that concerned citizens
of Mercedes would benefit from learning about its contents. The article states that Edgewood
School District voters will soon elect four school board members. This election is very important,
the editorial says, because it will decide the “balance of power” in that district.
One slate of candidates calls itself the “Edgewood Family Alliance” and is backed by Pablo
Escamilla, an “influential behind-the-scenes political player” and “head” of that school district’s
current law firm — the very same law firm Mercedes ISD hired by a majority vote of the magnificent
four, which as you know, includes Rey Sandoval and Amado Garcia.
Some opponents of the “Edgewood Family Alliance” declare it is wrong that Escamilla pulls
“strings in an election when he is answerable to trustees who win.” The editorial agrees stating:
“On that complaint they are dead right.”
The opposition slate to the “Edgewood Family Alliance” organized because they believed
that the board majority elected two years ago “halted progress and sent the district in the wrong
direction.” What a coincidence that the same problems are occurring in Mercedes; it appears that
the current majority, of which Rey Sandoval and Amado Garcia are a part, have also halted
progress and sent the district in the wrong direction.
Fortunately, under the leadership of the current administration, the children of Mercedes
continue to progress; still, one can’t help but wonder what other goals could have been
accomplished had we had a more cooperative, conscientious, and productive board.
In a separate San Antonio Express News editorial entitled, “(Commentator Bruce) Davidson:
Escamilla and Power Brokering: Top Issues in the Edgewood District” dated April 26, 2000, Pablo
Escamilla is called a “power broker,” a label that results from his involvement in “actively supporting
a slate of candidates” for the Edgewood board while his law firm is employed and paid by the
same school district. This article criticizes Escamilla for “working the races for his own benefit.”
“Foes” of Escamilla say that he “controls the district,” that he supports “people who aren’t
experienced” in order to gain “total control,” and that these people are “Escamilla puppets.” Is it
possible that this could be happening in Mercedes?
Furthermore, this article states that the “Escamilla-backed slate of candidates is so
“inexperienced and ill-prepared” that they will need all the legal advice they can get if elected.
Is it possible that the magnificent four have already obtained “all the legal advice” they need?
Consider the board meeting where citizens showed support for Mercedes Superintendent
Jesus Gandara by holding banners; it was Rey Sandoval who adamantly ordered the audience to
remove the banners. When the audience protested this action violated their constitutional rights,
Sandoval turned to the “Escamilla” attorney for legal advice on whether Gandara’s supporters
could hold up pieces of paper or not.
Is this the kind of legal advice we want to spend our hard earned tax dollars on? I don’t
understand how the magnificent four cannot understand that so many people risked coming
out” to support a system that they believe is good, progressive, and certainly beneficial to all the
school children of Mercedes. Is it possible that the magnificent four think they know more than
the people they were elected to represent?
Why do they insist on trying to dismiss Mr. Gandara and slow down the progress in our
schools?
Is it possible that the self-serving strategies resulting from the backing of the “Escamilla” slate
are the same ones in Mercedes? Is hand picking board members as in Edgewood likely to happen
in Mercedes? Today that depends on you, the voters. Thus, I encourage you to join me in
supporting and electing two good men genuinely concerned about the children of our community
Mr. Henry Howell and Mr. Oscar Gonzales.
Sincerely,
Maria Rincon
(Pol. Adv. Pd. By Maria Rincon, P.O. Box 1310, Mercedes, TX)
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The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 88, No. 18, Ed. 1 Wednesday, May 3, 2000, newspaper, May 3, 2000; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1632311/m1/3/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library.