GARZA 10-5

 The McHale Report is endorsing Eric Garza for Cameron County Sheriff in the November general election. Comparing his record with the Republican and Independent candidates, he is the clear choice. As a county-wide administrator during his successful terms as Cameron County District Clerk, he clearly has the skills to clean house and set the sheriff's office in a more accountable and transparent direction. He epitomizes dynamic and honest leadership.

"I feel it is important to clear the air," said Scott Steinbeck, The McHale Report's managing editor. "In the Democratic runoff we supported incumbent Omar Lucio because he had the experience and had managed his operation competently and professionally.

"/DP-M, our colleague who is the publisher of The Brownsville Republic, predicted that Lucio would fall because he was simply too old at 84 and that the electorate would demand a youthful change and that Garza would benefit from this sentiment. We had to tip our hats to the veteran journalist when his prognostication proved overwhelmingly correct. Garza walloped Lucio, 57% to 43%. As Max Maxwell, the dean of the RGV sportswriters, said, 'That was a first-round knockout!'

"In these times of Trump, we cannot support Republicans, even if it were Carlos Cascos running against Conrado Cantu for dogcatcher. We find it disingenuous that anonymous detractors are criticizing us for switching our allegiance to Garza. We are Democrats and once we have made our decision as a party, we unit behind that candidate. Unlike Sheriff Lucio whom we still hold in high regard, we are not sore losers. 

"With Trump leading the country toward perdition and supported by his fellow Republicans who cower in fear of his shadow, we would never vote for a red lemming. And as to the Independent that Garza is facing, he is campaigning with all the vigor of an old man walking his dog in the park on a late summer afternoon.

"It is time for a generational change and Garza is in the forefront of that vanguard. He is doing his best at keeping to the high road, but he is also proving that he can exchange with the best. In the eye-for-an-eye reality of politics, you can't allow yourself to become the target of unwarranted attacks. If an adversary is intent on earning a black eye for his tactics, Garza is more than capable of delivering a stiff right.

"Trump has drawn a line in the sand and he has said that either you're with the racists, the rednecks and the reactionaries or you're against us. As Democrats, our party means something and anyone who votes for Trump or a Republican is a traitor to our country. It's that black and white in 2020.

"But this isn't a lesser of two evils, or three evils, in this race, but an affirmation that Garza is a needed change, a breath of fresh air, an idealist who is also a realist, a man with an impeccable record who has been tested as a public servant. 

"He is doing his best at running an issues-oriented campaign, but there are times when personal insults require a politico to take off his gloves. But that's part of the process of climbing into the ring. We want our candidate to prove that he can deliver a good punch as well as take a good punch. To our delight, Garza is demonstrating that he is one tough hombre."