Not sure if this story has been put up yet, but I just couldn't resist sharing it. Only in a state with a major city named Waco <not mine> does politics generally come to actual blows. (or is it)?
In fact, last year a campaign volunteer from Charlie Stenholms and a staffer from Randy Neugaliars campaigns got into a scuffle at a local hockey match.
I wonder how often political grudge matches get bloody? In any case, I thought this story interesting and amusing enough to share. I mean hell, it's at least as interesting as a pie fight.
McALLEN -- The race for McAllen mayor turned bloody Wednesday during an altercation between campaign workers for the two candidates in the June 18 runoff.
A volunteer for Richard Cortez's mayoral campaign faces up to two years in jail in connection with an alleged attack on two of mayoral candidate Ric Godinez's campaign workers at an early-voting location.
Municipal Judge Roberto Salazar arraigned Jose Juan "J.J." Avila, 57, of McAllen, on two counts of Class A misdemeanor assault for allegedly head-butting Aaron Leonel Peña III, 25, of Edinburg and allegedly hitting another man, Carlos Cordon Sandoval, 25, of Edinburg.
Avila reportedly told police he head butted Peña, son of state Rep. Aaron Peña Jr., "because he had gotten in his face while he was speaking to one of his voters," according to the probable cause statement.
"We have instructed all our volunteers to avoid any confrontations with the Godinez hired workers, and until this incident our volunteers have been doing that," Cortez said. "I just received some additional information that there are three witnesses that have signed affidavits that the gentleman that was hit was provoking my volunteer. ...
"Obviously, I don't condone this. I think it's sad. It's not what represents the city of McAllen. It's not what should be happening in the city of McAllen. But unfortunately, when you bring operatives from outside the city that are paid people, sometimes things like this are going to happen."
Neither Cortez nor Godinez was present when the incident occurred.
"I think it's bad for everybody," Godinez said. "I think the voters need to have faith about the process that it's OK to come and vote without any fear of anything. And obviously with the situation you have here today, that doesn't necessarily emulate that particular feeling, and so it's bad for everybody."
Police initially responded to a complaint of "voter intimidation" at 11:26 a.m. at the early voting location at Old City Hall, 311 N. 15th St.
"It was alleged that the campaign volunteers at the voting location were photographing voters, making them feel intimidated by the actions of both campaigns (Cortez and Godinez)," according to the probable cause statement. "Officers spoke with all the volunteers and requested that their actions be stopped. All agreed, in the interest of the voters."
But just over an hour later, at 12:48 p.m., police responded to a disturbance in progress at the same location.
Sgt. Eduardo De La Rosa reported that Peña was on the ground when he arrived and Avila was being moved away from the scene by two females.
"(Avila) appeared agitated and kept moving toward (Peña)," according to the probable cause statement. "Mr. Avila, who was sporting a T-shirt for the Richard Cortez for Mayor campaign, told Sergeant De La Rosa that he had head butted the male (Peña), because he had gotten in his face while he was speaking to one of his voters."
Police said witnesses from both campaigns supported that account.
The head butting caused Peña to collapse, police said. Peña began bleeding profusely from his nose and was transported to McAllen Medical Center for further evaluation.
Peña learned at the hospital that he had a fracture to his nose and was being kept there for observation, police said.
During the investigation of the incident, police learned that Avila and Sandoval, another employee of the Godinez campaign, also had been involved in a "physical fight."
Sandoval told police he hit Avila after Avila refused to back away from Peña. Sandoval reportedly feared that Avila was going to further hurt Peña and his nine-months-pregnant wife, Clarissa Longoria, who was on the ground aiding Peña.
"During the confrontation, (Sandoval) alleges that Mr. Avila turned at him and hit him with a closed fist on his left jaw, causing him pain and discomfort, as he attempted to render aid to his friend," according to the probable cause statement.
Sandoval was taken to a personal physician to seek treatment for his injury, police said.
Avila, the former owner of McAllen Athletic Club, wore his "Richard CORTEZ FOR MAYOR" T-shirt inside out Wednesday evening as Municipal Judge Roberto Salazar arraigned him.
Each of the two counts carries a penalty of up to one year in county jail and a fine of $4,000 upon conviction.
Bond for Count 1, the alleged assault on Peña, is $10,000. Bond on Count 2, the alleged assault on Sandoval, is $5,000.
"There's no question that this situation got way out of control, but this is something that will be handled later on by a county court, and hopefully this will be the last time that I see you in this court on this type of case or any other type of case" Salazar told Avila during the arraignment.
"Yes, sir," Avila responded.
His attorney, requesting permission from the judge to escort his client to the county jail, said Avila is a longtime resident here and managed the athletic club for 20 years.
"This was something that unfortunately came out of the heat of passion," he said.
Rep. Peña learned of the incident involving his son while attending a legislative conference in California.
"It is particularly disturbing," he said. "I realize that some people take politics a little bit too seriously, but it's inexcusable for people to become violent. ...
It's disturbing that nobody has called me from the Cortez campaign to either apologize or to check on the medical status of my son who's in the hospital," he added."
If this is their idea of establishing good relations with their legislative delegation, they're off to a bad start. My son is simply a college student who's tying to make some extra money for his young family by working on a campaign, much the way I got started."
Marc B. Geller covers McAllen and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4445.