NEWS Staff Report
Use of city facilities in Rio Hondo for the San Benito News “Meet the Candidates” community forum, was denied Monday by Mayor Alonzo Garza.
In the meantime, another location has been confirmed as owners of the Deep River Family Bar and Grill graciously offered their establishment for the forum, which will be held as scheduled on Thursday, April 14 at 6:30 p.m.
Upon inquiring about information regarding written requests for use of city facilities to conduct the forum, Garza and Rio Hondo City Administrator Arturo Prida initially gave the News a verbal go-ahead to utilize the city hall board room. But on the afternoon of April 11, Garza informed News Managing Editor Michael Rodriguez of his hesitance because of it being “political season” and the fact that Rodriguez is “from San Benito.”
Specifically, the mayor requested that Josephat “Hoss” Lozano, a candidate in the Rio Hondo ISD school board elections and a confirmed participant in the forum, submit a written request from the city for use of the board room rather than the News, saying, “It’s just better if Hoss asks to use it since he’s from Rio Hondo and you’re from San Benito.”
“I instructed Mayor Garza that it was a San Benito News community forum held in conjunction with the Rio Hondo Pony League, not the Hoss Lozano forum. I also informed the mayor that it would be inappropriate – not to mention a possible conflict of interest – to recruit the involvement of one of the candidates participating in the forum,” Rodriguez said of his telephone conversation with Garza.
The mayor of Rio Hondo then asked Rodriguez if he was related to Anita Lozano, Hoss’ wife, and implied that he had “heard things” that made him think twice about holding the forum at any of the city-operated facilities due to mere rumors that the News editor was kin to the Lozanos.
“As far as I know, I am not related in any way to the Lozanos,” Rodriguez said. “For the record, I am not related to Anita Lozano or anyone else in Rio Hondo for that matter.”
Prida, meanwhile, offered no assistance in the matter and left the decision to hold the forum up to Garza. When asked about the mayor’s accusations, Prida said he “knew nothing.”
“Sadly, it would appear that there are people in Rio Hondo who’re doing all they can to prevent this forum from happening. I would encourage those people to weigh that in which is more important: A venue where citizens can hear from school board candidates during this the most urgent of times or their own political agenda?” Rodriguez concluded.
To see this story in print, pick up a copy of the April 13 edition of the San Benito News. Or view our E-Edition by clicking here.
Recent Comments