OLIVO

The McHale Report staff gathered at The Library for Happy Hour. It's a sad downtown these days, but there are warriors who will fight for the ol' gal until the bitter end because they love sitting among the ghosts of the Wild West. City Commissioners Ben Neece and John Cowen, PUB board member Patricio Sampayo and "Delta" Dave Handelman, the legendary bluesman, were seated at a nearby table. Pleasantries were exchanged, but the days of "abrazos" are over.

Scott Steinbeck: Who are you voting for in the BISD's Position 2 race?

Estanislao Contreras: I can't vote for Denise Garza. She's hiding something. I'm with Frankie Olivo. He doesn't hide anything.

Scott Steinbeck: You wouldn't consider Jaime Diez?

Estanislao Contreras: He's a cute youngster, but did you listen to him in the AOBE debates? El pobrecito no sabía nada. He was like a kid who had been misplaced in a algebra class and he still didn't know fractions. He is educated and may have a future, but he's only 24 and a St. Joe graduate. I don't have anything against Catholic school kids, but este niño isn't prepared for the adult world of Brownsville politics.

Scott Steinbeck: Where do you stand, Max?"

Max Maxwell: If Denise dropped about 15 pounds I might consider her, but Frankie's my gallo.

Scott Steinbeck: Are you part of the blind female vote, Annie?

Annie Gunn: No way. Frankie turns me on like few men. I'm sending him a pic with me in a bikini. I hope he gets the hint.

Scott Steinbeck: I heard that you were working for Frankie, Maclovio?

Maclovio O'Malley: You got that right, bro! The Southmost and Las Prietas are in his back pocket. The machos don't want a little girl or a little boy doing a man's job.

Scott Steinbeck: And doctor?

Dr. Polyphemous Pangloss: Frankie has been my patient for years. I remember when he was playing outside linebacker for Hanna and broke his arm against Pace. I had to break the news to him that he was out for the season. He laughed and told me to put the cast on his arm. The next week he made 15 tackles, recovered three fumbles and intercepted a pass in the flats and took it to paydirt against Rivera. I don't know anything about his opponent. Apparently, she lives in the shadows. Frankie is one tough hombre. He's the kind of guy I would want on my team.

Scott Steinbeck: And can Frankie count on the Baker Boys?

Billy Baker: Bobby and I are looking into Ms. Garza's background. Besides being virtually uneducated, particularly comparing her to Frankie who is pursuing his Master's in Greek and Roman Studies, we are discovering skeletons in her closet that bring up character issues. Bobby and I are, of course, objective. We only deal in evidence and facts. Thus far, based on their employment and educational records, Frankie is clearly more qualified.

Scott Steinbeck: How does STIJA see the race?

Anthony Starr: We have Garza ahead of Olivo, 42% to 38%, with Diez pulling up the rear at 20%.

Scott Steinbeck: There's still more than two months until the election. I'm sure we'll be having this discussion several times in the coming weeks. Who bought these? Patricio? Patricio! Gracias, compadre!