Statement from U.S. Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz on the recount in the 27th Congressional District of Texas Race

This afternoon, the manual recount of votes cast in the race for U.S. Representative of the 27th District of Texas was concluded. After a careful, tedious and meticulous manual recount in six South Texas counties, each candidate gained a handful of votes. I continue to stress the importance of ensuring every vote was counted and every person’s voice was heard. I decided to request a recount after many of my supporters and constituents contacted me and asked me to do so. I carried on with their request to ensure the integrity of the election was not compromised.

Today that process was completed as we recounted more than 106,000 votes in San Patricio, Nueces, Kleberg, Kenedy, Willacy and Cameron Counties. Although I gained votes during the manual recount, I did not surpass my opponent’s lead. Therefore, with great respect and admiration in the Democratic process, I congratulate my opponent, Mr. R. Blake Farenthold, in his election to the 27th Congressional District of Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives.

I wish him well. I ask Mr. Farenthold, as I have done so for the past 27 years, to represent every one of his constituents in this Congressional District. I respectfully urge him to continue to: spur economic growth in South Texas; reduce the unemployment rate; help working families succeed; provide affordable health care for all Americans; secure our U.S.-Mexico border from violence and drug war; and ensure America can continue to be a land of freedom, opportunity and prosperity for all. Again, I wish him good luck.

To my supporters, those who have been with me since I was first elected to office in 1964 at the age of 27, from the very bottom of my heart, I thank you for standing by me and with me through it all. Words cannot tell how much I appreciate the love and support you have show me and my family over the years. Thank you for the good memories and endless accomplishments; thank you for your vote of confidence and for believing in me; thank you for your love and words of encouragement.

As this process comes to an end, I am at ease and peace with myself, my family, my colleagues in Congress, my constituents, life and most importantly, I am at ease with God. I truly believe that through our work and significant contributions during my years of service in Congress, we leave South Texas better than before.

I leave the national stage, certain of having done the right thing for those I represented. In the thousands of votes I cast in Congress for the 27th Congressional District of Texas, time and time again, I voted as my constituents asked me to do so. But just as important, I voted with my heart and for the best interest of all the people and communities I have had the pleasure of representing. I stand behind each and every one of those votes today and always will.

I end this campaign – and my public service – with a favorite verse from poet Robert Frost’s ‘The Road Not Taken’.

“I shall be telling this with a sigh

“Somewhere ages and ages hence:

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

“I took the one less traveled by,

“And that has made all the difference.”

It certainly has made all the difference.

U.S. Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz

27th Congressional District of Texas

JOE A. GONZALEZ YOUR NEW COMMISSIONER FOR NUECES COUNTY, PCT 2

Nueces County, Texas --JAG: Joe A. Gonzalez : He and District Attorney Mark Skurka; One of the Last Democrats Standing this Cycle (pictured with Chief Advisor Attorney Joe Flores)

In an historical development the Republicans achieved a landslide in Nueces County. Joe A. Gonzalez won handedly as your new County Commissioner in Precinct 2 as did Mark Skurka for District Attorney-both the last candidates in the Democratic party to win in 2010. Skurka and JAG will assume office in January and move forward working with the Republican controlled County Commissioner's Court.

Chief Political Advisor for JAG and local attorney, Joe Flores was reached for comment: "The Democrats took a hard punch this cycle. I was disappointed in the results but I congratulate the Republican party in their concerted efforts and the dollars they spent to achieve victory. In politics you need to grow a thickskin and be a good winner as well as a good loser. Those who didn't learn to shake hands after the Little League game better learn how. It is my belief that the Democratic vote will come out again in 2012 as expected in the presidential cycle. I would pack a lunch for the next battle if I was the Republican party and wouldn't do victory laps just yet on this isolated development. Mark (Skurka) and JAG knew the formula of humbling oneself and reaching out to both sides of the aisle for bipartisan support and that is why they opened up the can of whoopingbehinds. No politician can take a person's vote for granted by virtue of their skin color or religious affiliation any longer in South Texas."

Other races that were political shockers in this hail of voter bullets included Marisela Saldana's loss to Guy Williams for the 148th District Court. Saldana held the bench several years and Williams had run several times before achieving victory. Todd Hunter, District 32 State rep commented, " Guy had name identification and pounded on several thousand doors. That, coupled with this Republicans coming out to vote pushed him over the edge to victory." Another upset was in the State Rep races of Abel Herrero and Solomon Ortiz who were defeated soundly by Connie Scott and Raul Torres respectively. And of course, Manuel Banales, a 23 year veteran on bench for the 105th distict emcompassing Kenedy, Kleberg and Nueces County was roundly defeated by challenger Angelica Hernandez, a former Democrat now the darling of the Republican party.

The young voter phenomenon of not pulling "La Palanca" or straight ticket was shown this cycle. Leader of Young Voters of South Texas, a nonpartisan group, Danielle Oldham was quoted as saying that no longer can the leaders of either party take the young vote for granted. "We under 30 see the switching from party to party that many of the politicians have done as well as the broken promises from both sides. Many young people are voting their conscience and looking at each individual leader. If the politicians want the young people's vote they will have to appeal to us as individuals, not just because they are affiliated with one party or another. The political landscape has changed dramatically in South Texas." Oldham has brought on both Democrats and Repubicans on her show on KTMV Time Warner Channel 6 after the elections and will be bringing back information and live footage from Austin in January to better educate the young and all voters.

What happened in South Texas this cycle underlines the fact that no vote can be taken for granted and that many former staunch Democrats, reportedly disenchanted with Democratic leadership have jettisoned to the bipartisan line and demand not to be taken for granted any longer. They also apparently don't agree with the Pelosi-esque view of being a Democrat and certainly do not want to feel that they are not in the "in crowd" of the Democratic party and have shown their distaste for not being included. If the numbers are going to change the next go around it is advisable that the Democrats eat humblepie and go back to their roots of pounding on doors and going to every pachanga, baptism, funeral and wedding and embracing the roots of the party or they will see the same shellacking that occurred in 2010.

Bill Clinton Joins To Help Ortiz With Recount movement

Dear South Texas:

The Election is not over--there are still votes being counted in South Texas!

My good friend, Congressman Solomon Ortiz, is currently locked in a race where the vote between him and his opponent is separated by .8% of the vote—that’s POINT EIGHT PERCENT. He can make it through this recount, but he needs our help.

Congressman Ortiz has been standing up for South Texas for over 28 years, now lets stand up and help him fight back!
Help me raise $50,000 by Noon on Monday for the Ortiz Recount Fund.

Please click here and make an immediate contribution of $100, $50, $25 or even $10 directly to the Ortiz Recount Fund. Congressman Ortiz had my back when I was in the White House and now we have to have his back as he battles to ensure every vote is counted! I traveled to Brownsville in October and had a chance to see all that Congressman Ortiz has done for the district. He’s been fighting for the working people of South Texas from his days as Constable all the way to Subcommittee Chairman for Military Readiness. Ortiz has delivered and will continue to deliver once all the votes are counted.

Help me deliver for Solomon Ortiz by making a contribution of $100, $50, $25 or even $10 to the Ortiz Recount Fund.

Let’s not give up before this election is over! Solomon Ortiz needs us to stand with him and send him back to represent us in Washington DC.

Thank you,

Bill Clinton

P.S. Help me help my old friend Solomon Ortiz by contributing $100, $50, $25 or even $10 before Noon on Monday. Your support will ensure all the votes are counted.

Contributions or gifts to Ortiz for Congress are not tax deductible. Contributions from corporations, labor organizations’ treasury funds and foreign nationals are prohibited. Best efforts will be used to collect the name, address, occupation and employer for individuals who contribute $200 and over in an election cycle. Individuals may contribute up to $2,400 per election.

STATEMENT FROM SOLOMON P. ORTIZ IN REFERENCE TO THE RECOUNT IN THE 27TH RACE

Statement from the Ortiz for Congress Committee on recount in the Texas 27 Race

“Today, the Ortiz for Congress Committee submitted a deposit for $12,000 to the Texas Secretary of State and a memo to amend the original petition requesting all precincts in all counties in the 27th District of Texas be recounted manually. The Ortiz for Congress Committee was informed today by the Texas Secretary of State that a recount of the November 2 General Election has been approved and that they will be contacting counties in the 27th District of Texas this afternoon to inform them of the recount. Given the well-documented irregularities that have already come to light, it’s vitally important to have a full and accurate counting of every vote. It is the utmost desire of the Ortiz for Congress Committee and the Ortiz Recount Team to ensure every vote cast in the 27th District of Texas is counted and that every person’s voice is heard.”

Editorial: SOLOMON TRAVELS TO CHINA -- Why? and Anna Jimenez A big Mistake For Blake Farenthold?

While District Judge Marisela Saldana is “Soul Searching” in Las Vegas, Solomon P,. Ortiz has also ventured to a distant place – a much further place: China, according to sources. Ortiz is trying to get his son, Solomon P. Ortiz Jr. (who just lost the State Representative seat to Raul Torres, Republican) a high executive job with a company doing business with the U.S. Military. The contradiction is that the petition for the recount was not filled properly and his focus is elsewhere.

Ortiz had to shift gears – why? The depths of his dedication! He, according to insiders, needs to take care of those family and close friends to his network stay afloat financially amidst the crisis sparred by the disillusion of the November 2 election. It was a crushing Republican sweep.

The spiritual ills of the modern Democratic Party even at the national level are observable. President Barack Obama did not want to meet with Ortiz in China even after a special invitation. Many at that level point out that Obama senses the vibes directed at incumbent Democrats – especially Ortiz who is lobbying for his help in trying to overturn the eleciton. Furthermor,e Ortiz’ political network, keep in mind supported Hillary Clinton on her bout for president, not Obama. The socio-political distance is growing more profound and expected to be more weighty in the next few months.

Ortiz’ former chief of staff Lencho Rendon, and behinds the scenes powerbroker who started his own corporations and a major business network under the unbrella of LR GlOBAL (Lencho Rendon Global), cannot afford to have Solomon P. Ortiz Jr. on his payroll. This is one of the reasons cited explaining why Ortiz Sr. is “burning the candles at both ends” before his term expires at the flicker of the first of January of next year.

Despite the fact that Rendon is making about three million dollars off Ortiz’ connections, he cannot afford to be lifted to a plane of and maze of mirrors spooked with bad public relations. Rendon has too much to lose at this juncture. He’s creative power has always been effectively executed mostly in “backstairs” deals and furtive rooms, according to some that have caught a glimpse of negotiations.

Some claim a man by the name of G. Ybarra is Rendon’s “bagman”. At least this is the tittle-tattle within the orbit of those in the bon ton and “In The Know” of this jumble: taking business to China and lobbying to get business for key persons within the Ortiz’ tight network. Some as far as Washington D.C. are claiming they have been asked to invest anywhere from $100,000 to move than that in order to try and get China’s business connections.

Some claim records show that Rendon was on the payroll of Austin Texas’s Attorney Rosenthal. He (Rosenthal) is a high profile attorney that word circulates in tight circles and core elite gossip that Rendon and his network ran cases for him. This has not been verified. But if there is other pertinent information many a media entity would welcome it.

However the influence of this man has propelled the intial phase of a “hand count” of election ballots in the Valley. Many are asking: “What would drive Solomon P. Ortiz Sr. to believe there are 3000 quesitonable votes?” … Other veteran political observers and analysts that are familiar with the landscape and voting rigmarole point out that the Valley of South Texas still uses hand ballots. “There can be a high degree of relative variablity as to the manner and quaility of those ballots are deem to be striked out or added to the final tally. There might be a variable of regional interpretation… who knows?” one source said.

As for incumbent Congressman-elect Blake Farenthold, he has appointed Anna Maria Jimenez (who was appointed to serve as Nueces County District Attorney by the governor) to his administrative transition team and she is expected to play a major role in his new alliance. Some observers are calling it: “A major mistake. As an administrator of the DA’s office, she was been described by some top Republicans as ‘incompetent.’ Her inordinate reorganization of the DA’s office resulted in a major public relation nightmare for the office. This was the final staw for many republicans who had previously had some confidence in her. ”

A local businessman said: “I am a staunch Republican, but Anna Maria Jimenez in my opinion carries this dark cloud of controvery everywhere she goes. I feel Steve Ray (the political consultant for Farenthold) has brought Anna Jimenez in too far into the Republican Party. Ms. Jimenez was an appointee by the Governor. If anyone should have won in the November 2^nd eleciton, it was her.”

“Even successful candidate for District Judge Angelica Hernandez said in a previous converation: ‘She (Anna) brought this upon herself.’ If anyone with such a close-knit relationship says that about Ms. Jimenez, it seems to be chiseled into one’s memory” another confidencial source detailed.

“Ms. Jimenez does not belong in our party – her ideals are not quite ours. Her brother, who is an attorney, I am lead to believe benefitted from her being in the DA’s office. A case in point: The arrest of a man caught selling drugs (associated with Dorann’s Home Health in Robstown) is an issue that I’m concerned about. The man who was caught selling drugs there openly at a main street medical supply office in Robstown was quickly represented by Jimenez’ brother – who even provided him with special consideration during his detainment. This cause is still before District Judge Nelva Gonzalez-Ramos. these are not the values of the party. In my humble estimation. Ms. Jimenezis a thorn and a cancer to the party. As for Ms. Jimenez I feel she has come across as being very unethnical,” an Hispanic Republican opined. “She seems to need Anger Management Classes. On September 27 she was caught on video at the parking lot at TARGET’S around 11 a.m. She was having an altercation which was associated with domestic problems. She has this inexplicable impulse to leave things off wack. It would be a huge mistake to have her run for anything again as a Republican. She is a huge liability – she has conflict ofinterest in the DA’s office and is ineffectual.”

Ortiz for Congress Committee on recount in the Texas 27 Race

Statement from the Ortiz for Congress Committee on recount in the Texas 27 Race

The Ortiz for Congress Committee released this statement following today’s announcement that paperwork had been filed requesting a recount with the Texas Secretary of State pertaining to the Texas 27 Race:

“This afternoon, the Ortiz for Congress Committee filed the appropriate paperwork with the Secretary of State’s Office in Austin as we seek a recount in a race that is too close to call. Upon clarifying the process with the counties and the Secretary of State, we followed all appropriate measures and have requested a manual recount in Willacy, Kenedy, Kleberg, and Nueces Counties and portions of San Patricio and Cameron Counties.

"Congressman Ortiz wants to ensure that the votes of the people of South Texas be counted accurately and that no vote be left out.”

Background

Provisional and military ballots are being counted today across the district

No counties have certified their votes

NUECES COUNTY ELECTION NIGHT ANALYSIS IN VIDEO

NUECES COUNTY ELECTION NIGHT ANALYSIS IN VIDEO: click on links below to view....

PART 1: HOMER VILLARREAL ANALYSIS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FokX-Q8cr6A

PART 2: HOMER VILLARREAL CONTINUED: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MyK3kAag74

Part 3: CONGRESSMAN ELECT BLAKE FARENTHOLD: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SIOB_vQXFo

Part 4: CONGRESSMAN ELECT BLAKE FARENTHOLD: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VbOo3PzHT4

Part 5: CONGRESSMAN ELECT BLAKE FARENTHOLD & video footage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01bf0IjwA6w

Part 6: FOOTAGE & DEBATES AT COURTHOUSE ELECTION NIGHT on issue of "crossing over" and interpreting the Republicans coming in droves: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c5lqcu8-4Y

Part 7: FOOTAGE OF COURTHOUSE DEBATE CONTINUED: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hooijxlSIh4

Part 9: COURTHOUSE FOOTAGE DEBATE cont. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5iEq6ntbwM

Part 10: YOUNG VOTERS OF SOUTH TEXAS footage at courthouse - Coordinator Daniel Oldham: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9NBhcelRFk

Statement of Ortiz for Congress Campaign on Recount in TX27 Race

Statement of Ortiz for Congress Campaign on Recount in TX27 Race

“As I have said since Tuesday, we still need to ensure every vote is counted before determining the outcome of this race. However, since numerous voting irregularities have been reported in the 27th Congressional District of Texas race, I have also decided to ask for a manual recount. Just in the first days of counting, we’ve seen uncounted votes appear. It is my utmost desire to ensure that the votes of the people of South Texas be cast and counted and that no vote be left out. Therefore, we’ve begun putting together the documents necessary to request a recount. I thank all who participated in the election process.”

U.S. Representative Solomon P. Ortiz

AFTER THE ELECTIONS PRAYER FOR SOUTH TEXAS (by Homer Villarreal -founder of El Defenzor)

Gracious God, we pray for the people of this nation, especially our region of South Texas:
For those recently elected to office, award wisdom to rule and administrate wisely, end authoritarian policies, and pass changes that profit all the people;
For candidates who lost in the elections, grant wisdom to carry on their work for the well-being of the area;
For the people who participated in the election, we give thanks and pray that their courage and hope to accept the fruit in a transformed area;
For those who feel removed and disenfranchised and alienated in the election, we lament and pray that systems may be humanized and spiritualized and renewed in ways that include all;
For our sisters and brothers in Christ, we offer gratitude for their true to life service and urge that they will carry out good judgment and valor, optimism and love, and all they require for the living of these days;
Inspire the leaders, people, and friends of the NUECES, KLEBERG, and so forth to order their living so that justice and fairness and integrity flows like water and peace prevails.
Amen.