Port Aransas South Jetty (Port Aransas, Tex.), Vol. 30, No. 49, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 7, 2000 Page: 2 of 30
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I\\c;i: 2A Thursday, December 7, 2000
Pori Aransas South Jetty
Murray and Mary Judson
Co-Publishers
Mary Judson
Editor
"IPhone (361) 749-5131 e-mail: southjetty@centurytel.net
Opinion
Member.
South Texas Press Association
Texas Gulf Coast Press Association
Texas Press Association
National Newspaper Association
Dave
Hispanic names
give political edge?
I lie Texas Republican Party is trying to
include Hispanics. Sometimes it works.
Sometimes it doesn’t.
(iov. George W. Bush
appointed Judge Ernest
Garcia, to Travis
County’s 126th District
Court to fill a vacancy.
Bui Garcia has just be-
come a former judge. He
lost a recount Tuesday in
traditionally Democratic
Travis County to Demo-
crat Darlene Byrne — by
one-third of 1 percent.
Meanwhile, Judge Julie
Kocurek, whom Bush McNEELY
had appointed to Travis
County’s newly created 390th District
Court, got 51.8 percent to beat Democrat
Karrie Key.
Republican pollster Michael Baselice
thinks Garcia’s Hispanic surname had less
to do with his loss than Kocurek’s better
campaign, hitting issues of concern to Re-
publican voters. And besides, her popular
and well-known grandfather in-law, Willie,
was plugging her candidacy.
As long ago as I ‘>80, Roy Barrera Jr. won
a contested primary and runoff primary
against Anglo officials to be the Republican
nominee for attorney general. (He then lost
to incumbent Democrat Jim Mattox.)
But Baselice admits that sometimes Re-
publicans haven’t been completely welcom-
ing to those with Hispanic surnames. 1
“When Hispanics are running in a Re-
publican primary, depending upon the lo-
cation, it can he difficult because so many
of l he Republican primary voters are Anglo,"
Baselice said.
A couple examples:
• In 1994, Tony Garza — who later be-
came Gov. Bush's first appointee as Texas
secretary of state — ran tor the GOB nomi-
nation for attorney general. He finished a
weak fourth, against three Anglos, with 17.5
percent of the vote.
When he was considering running for
state land commissioner, Garza decided to
switch his sights to the Texas Railroad Com-
mission after Houston multimillionaire
David Dewhurst said he’d run for the land
.office, which he won.
Rather than run against a rich Anglo, “1
blinked,” Garza said at the time.
- In this year’s Republican primary, Bush’s
appointee to the Texas Supreme Court, Al
Gonzales — w ho had succeeded Garza as
secretary of state — got 57.7 percent against
Rod Gorman.
Meanwhile, Bush Railroad Commission
appointee Michael Williams — an African
American — got 80 percent in his primary
against Andy Draughn.
Hispanic surname problems?
“i hate to admit it, but I think it’s true,"
Baselice said.
“Republicans see a name like Gonzales,
(a I) they’ll pick another Anglo sounding
name.’”
lie prefers to “look at it the other way
around,” Baselice said. “I'm happy Gonzales
got through.”
Being a Democrat doesn’t guarantee a
1 lispanic’s elect ion.
in 1991, thcn-Gov. Ann Richards ap
pointed Eortunato “Pete" Benavides as the
first Hispanic on the Court of Criminal
Appeals, hut he lost for re-election in 1992
against Republican Lawrence Meyers — even
though two other Democrats were elected
to other court seals at the same time.
Baselice is blunt V\ith Hispanics destined
for majority status in Texas within I 5 to 20
years, and a propensity to vote Democratic,
Republicans must have 1 hspanics on the
ballot, “or we re gone.”
Dave McNeely writes Jar The Austin
American-Statesman. He may he reached
at 5 / 2/445-3644 or
drncneely@stalesman.com.
OOfT55
ssawiwksr
DO
YOU
THINK
WOMEN
LISTEN
BETTED
THAT'S
NICE/
DEAR.
Tidemarks
C.M. Henkel Jr.
Make someone else’s Christmas bright
Many of us in Port Aransas have the op-
portunity to help make a difference for those
who are less fortunate.
Thanks to the tireless (and mostly thank-
less) work of the EMS, police and fire de-
partments, the VFW, Boatmen and Kiwanis,
families in need in Port Aransas will be able
to have a Merry Christmas.
These groups coordinate, collect, sort and
deliver food and toys to families in Port
Aransas so they’ll have Christmas. Contri-
butions of unwrapped toys, nonpcrishable
foods and cash to buy the perishables at the
last minute before delivery are welcomed.
Nothing is taken out for administration of
the combined Toy Roundup and Care and
Share Christmas Drive. It is an all volun-
teer effort, and every
penny, every toy and ev-
ery morsel of food goes
to less fortunate families
right here in Port
Aransas.
Anyone who has any-
thing to share, from a
five-dollar bill to a basket
full of groceries or toys,
will know that their gifts
will make all the differ-
ence in the world to a
child who has no compre-
Spinoff
Mary Henkel
Judson
Editor
hension (and shouldn’t have) of the diffi-
culty his or her parents face trying to make
ends meet -- much less provide Christmas
presents or a special holiday meal.
In the spirit of the holiday, take the time
to send a contribution, drop toys by the
public safety building and/or put a few ex-
tra groceries in your cart when you’re at
the Family Center and drop them off at the
collection table.
You’ll feelbetter thinking dbout that kid
whose face will light up with a smile on
Christmas morning because you made the
effort.
Thanks - and Merry Christmas!
Salud!
Well thank God it’s over.
All of the bickering, the anger, the accu-
sations, the lies. Finally the voice of the
people - the power of the ballot boxes and
the law have been asserted.
We thought it would never end. The con-
fusion, the power plays, the debates, the
planes, the busses, the trains, the hours and
hours of hours and hours - the millions of
faces, the babies to kiss, the hands to shake,
the backs to pat, the blinding photo flashes,
the screaming PA systems, the sound bites,
the speeches, the speeches, the speeches.
The ubiquitous reporters. The hunting, the
gallons and gallons of promises, the ex-
hausted smile muscles. The raspy voices of
the promisers. And then the count, and
recount, and finally the winner.
A new president.
, Viva Vincente Fox -
viva Mexico - viva
democracy after 71
years of no democracy.
Yes, there are elec-
tions that work. But it
took a lot of work, a
PaPTI TC lot °f courage, and a lot
v-^AC * of suffering, but our
PrYQr neighbors to the south
--finally have a cham-
pion who will do his best to bring freedom
to the masses who have been imprisoned
by poverty.
Now, perhaps, we can look forward to vis-
iting our southern neigJibors without appre-
hension.
Who knows, perhaps one day — and this
is a stretch - there will be those swimming
across the Rio Grande from north to south.
E)ecember 1, 2000 - a day of fiesta, salud
Presidente Fox.
Meanwhile, back in Florida...
Letters to the editor
Preview the
South Jetty
and see all the
Classif ied ads at
www. portasouthjetty. com
The South Jetty
(946-020) pays
PERIODICALS POSTAGE
at Port Aransas, TX
Postmaster!
Send address changes to
South Jetty
P.O. Box 1116
Port Aransas, TX
78373
Great for longevity!
Noting a typographical error in a date-
line (November 23, 1 7000), Shcbesta wrote
the following:
Reading the South Jetty has done won-
ders for my longevity. I’ve just aged 15,000
years and feel great!! Keep up the good work.
Sincerely,
Harvey Shcbesta
Waukesha, W1
Stop urban sprawl
For 35 years I have had the privilege of
spending summers and holidays in Port
Aransas, soaking in the amazing abundance
of marine anti bird live.
The slow but sure dozing, concreting, anil
developing of Mustang Island and its shores
lias disturbed me because of its impact on
animal habitat, particularly that of birds. 1
have learned through my studies at the
University of Texas that mart has been re-
sponsible for the extinction of over half of
all bird species in the last 10,000 years,
mostly through habitat destruction.
Let’s learn from our ancestors* mistakes,
and take a community stand against the
urban sprawl on Mustang Island. We have
inherited one of the richest ecosystems on
earth; let’s be good stewards.
Sincerely,
Ann Schweppe Ashmun
Austin and Port Aransas
Wreath support
Each year that I sell Christmas wreaths, I
expect that the demand will be less - that
people will want something new. But each
year alter your stories in the South Jetty, I
find new orders and old customers reor-
der. I’m sure that your support of this ac-
t ivit y of our church group is responsible for
its ongoing success - and we are very grate-
ful. The money we make on the sale of the
IITPOt lie (TOOc t/y Kr«l»x rspv for Thrift Ilia i
decorations in our church and for our other
Christmas activities.
Thank you for the many tnany articles
you have written for us through the years -
(and it has been a while hasn’t it?) We
appreciate every one!
Sincerely,
Caroline Kinney
Community Presbyterian Church
Thanks
Sometimes the random acts of kindness
arc overtaken by senseless acts of vandal-
ism and it shakes the foundation of our prin-
ciples and the way we look at life. Tuesday,
Nov. 28, those events occurred.
After many years of fighting mosquitoes
anil the heat to enjoy the fellowship of scouts,
the Jerry McDonald Foundation and the
Rotary Club combined to donate funds for
the installation of air conditioning and heat-
ing the Port Aransas Boy Scout Building.
We were all quite proud during the last two
weeks w hen we were able to meet in a con-
trolled environment (sans mosquitoes)
while it was hot, cold and humid outside.
Well, all good things come to an end. Last
week someone decided to use the outside
air-conditioning unit as a football and kicked
it enough to roll it over several times. Need
less to say, it’s destroyed. A senseless act
committed by someone because of lack of
attention, boredom, frustrat ion, or just plain
meanness. We all hope that this sort of
attitude is not prevalent in Port Aransas
because we have always prided ourselves on
community and involvement, but it is oc-
curring more and more often. Why?
Although 1 cannot yet prove who was
responsible, I looked at you last week and
will probably make eye contact with you in
the near future. During my Veteran’s Day
speech last month, I talked about the value
of a dollar. Obviously, someone wasn’t lis-
tening or didn’t care. It’s the not caring
part that really hurts.
”i> dll oi you who nave donated your time,
money and efforts to help the scouts, 1 want
to thank you. To whoever is seeking atten-
tion or recognition - come to scouts and
replace the senseless act of violence with
something positive.
Chuck Borders.
Scoutmaster, Boy Scout Troop 29
Port Aransas
Letters
to the editor
• Letters to the editor must meet the
following criteria:
• should be of general or specific in-
terest to the readership of the South
Jetty
• should be limited to about 300
words
• must contain a valid signature
• must contain a valid mailing address
• must contain day and evening tele-
phone numbers where the writer may
be reached
• names of persons writing letters will
not be withheld from publication
• unsigned letters will not be pub-
lished
•only one letter per person per 30
days period will be published
• letters endorsing or opposing politi-
cal candidates are considered political
advertising and should be taken to the
advertising department
• “thank you” letters are considered
classified advertising and should go to
the classified ad department
• deadline for letters is 12 noon on
Tuesday for inclusion in the following
Thursday’s edition.
Mail letters to:
Letters to the Editor
P.O. Box 1116
Ammmam -rvr
■ wn muiiouo, • A t Uv) I O
or e-mail them to:
southjetty @ centurytel.net
Thanks for your contributions to the
Tov Roundup
id the Care, ana Share Christmas hrh
for needy famlies of Port Aransas
Mesquite was \
early Yule tree ]
A hot Christmas makes a fat churchyard.
-Thomas Fuller
NOT savored, a necessary visit to a hdge
department store ,»i least two weeks berore
Thanksgiving resuited in my seeing every-
thing decorated for Christmas everywhere.
I recall a youfth
when our family tfee
was a cedar chopped
from the field o$ a
friendly farmer. jo-
day, it’s a long dayjin
the past since 1 saw
my first pine ijn-
ported fnjm
- Yankceland displayed
on a street corner close to the exit from a
New York subway. Here I recall a late night
in New York after returning to a U.S. mer-
chant ship in which I served as the most
junior officer. 1 got off the subway in Brook-
lyn where my ship was berthed and saw a
man standing in a puddle of fir trees for
sale. A first such display in my experience.
On a spur of the moment, likely feeling a
bit sorry for the vender standing in the cold
in the wee hour of the morning, 1 purchased
a six footer for about $1.50, then foundja
taxi to take me to the dock where my ship
was berthed. Aboard, hesitating, 1 was un-
certain as to what to do with my purchagjp,
then left it on deck outside the officer^’
quarters and turned in for the night.
Now to end a bad story. Capt. Eaton’s wife
saw the tree in the morning and inquire)!
of the night watchman, who had seen nn(e
bring the tree aboard. Next, 1 was called tfa
the captain’s quarters where 1 became
obliged to confess. With that the captaip
gave me a $5 bill and ordered me to go ashorje
and find some decorations. Returning
aboard, I noted Chips, ship’s carpenter, hail
mounted the tree and set it up in the saloq,
the officers’ dining hall. 1 then carried my
purchases to the captain’s office. By
dinnertime that evening, Mrs. Eaton had
decorated the tree. She came to my rescuij,
especially when I fell in the had graces c(f
the first officer, a man who established a
dislike for me from my first day aboard;.
Might as well confess, in the future it wa$
often enough lhat Mrs. Eaton saved my neclq
at least until after a year 1 found my way
into the good graces of the captain. ... ;
"Here I repeat a too often told tale of mf
first Texas Yule tree. Boring, at least to mj
family, the story came from a lady of .years
who told me that in her girlhood days, th^
lowly mesquitc tree became the holiday tre<)
for which decoration included candles. Froni
that time on, to the dismay of my childrenj
especially the girls, the Texas mesquitc bo
came the tree for the season. Indeed, with)
out help from me, the idea was accepted by
a Corpus Christi group, lhat once sponsored
a holiday display of trees somewhere in thd
city.
Happy then I was when some days agd
when I discovered’a mesquitc Yule tree set
up in the ranch home of a son and his wife;
Hoping now that with the gathering of theif
children for the holiday, that none will hi}
disappointed. ‘
To return to the trees of my own child)
hood and youth in the Shenandoah Valley
of Virginia, the cedar tree was not much
well regard by farmers than the mesquitc
in Texas. Recalling my earliest days in South)
Texas, ranchers and farmers were waging
an all-out war against the then believed
menace of the mesquitc.
NOW WHAT I’d like to hope is a finaj
word, at least from here, on Al Gore. Surely
now in the unhappy chance that he may
become our next president, he has in the
eyes of so many Americans, won eternal and
exclusive claim to Cry Baby from Tennes-
see, one that makes me more than sorry fCKj
Tipper, a real lady of the first chop.
In this column I have lost my way, whop)
my real intent was to define my respectftrfj
sentiments regarding the Christmas seasp^j
and its meaning. So much said, let me ail^ti
my distaste for over indulgence in all thin^j
including celebrations of whatever kind. ^
C.M. “Cap" Henkel Jr. is a retired ru’u^S
paper publisher living in Corpus ChristU+x
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Judson, Mary. Port Aransas South Jetty (Port Aransas, Tex.), Vol. 30, No. 49, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 7, 2000, newspaper, December 7, 2000; Port Aransas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth635858/m1/2/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Ellis Memorial Library.