Dallas County Crooks

A couple of weeks ago, Justice of the Peace Luis Sepulveda did an interview about the Jaime Cortes/Derick Evans debacle. He admitted to being an instigator in the initial investigation and having recommended several deputy constables take their grievances to the Commissioners Court. It was an impressive interview. He spoke well and without emotion.

But, Luis didn't live in West Dallas. He lived and still lives in Arcadia Park, where he has always been involved. He has a nice, but modest home in an even more modest neighborhood where everyone knows each other. Arcadia Park has more than its share of problems, including drug houses and lousy code enforcement. Thanks to the last horrible redistricting commission, Mad Max Aaronson and the late Joe May, Arcadia Park and my NW Dallas neighborhood are in the same city council district. We are so far apart geographically that the quickest route from one area to the other is through Irving.

That bit of history and geography lesson is intended to give you a better understanding of why I was so impressed with his interview. Some politicians get arrogant and condescending when they've been in office for awhile. Instead, Judge Sepulveda looked dignified, serious and determined. He has nothing to gain by challenging Constables Cortes and Evans. But, there are some serious bad guys who have a lot to lose from what Judge Sepulveda started.

By sheer luck, I stumbled across this blog by Kevin Krause for The Dallas Morning News:

The current Dallas County constable controversy is the same three-act play we've seen before. Only this time, the cast of characters is different (mostly).

Those who follow county politics will remember a similar drama that played out over three years beginning in 1997 with former Constable Aurelio Castillo (shown here in 2000 with lawyer, Domingo Garcia), who presided over the precinct that includes part of Oak Cliff, Dallas, Cockrell Hill and Oak Lawn.

Now, with Constable Jaime Cortes, history appears to be repeating itself (at least so far). Both stories follow a familiar theme.

Act I: The Expansion -- the constable attempts to expand the duties of his office
Act II: The Allegations -- employees go to the DA with charges of corruption
Act III: The Takedown -- county officials try to remove the constable from office.

... After taking office in 1997, Castillo set about lobbying county commissioners for a traffic program -- a considerable expansion of his office, which mainly served civil papers and handled other duties for the justice of the peace courts.
... By the time Cortes took office in mid-2007, his mentor, Derick Evans, and the other constables had already succeeded in convincing county commissioners to give them traffic units with the promise that the units would pay for themselves in traffic tickets.

Cortes soon followed Evans' lead in ordering an aggressive towing operation -- using only one main wrecker service -- to target those without automobile insurance or proper registration. Some Cortes deputies said they were fired or disciplined because they didn't impound enough vehicles.

Castillo was accused of the same thing -- having his deputies stop numerous vehicles (mostly Hispanic illegal immigrants) and impound them to drum up business for Rubealcaba Enterprises, which Castillo gave exclusive towing rights to in exchange for campaign contributions, according to prosecutors.

When both Castillo and Cortes were accused of wrongdoing, influential Oak Cliff lawyer Domingo Garcia came to their defense, saying the whole thing was a political witch hunt. Garcia is still representing Cortes and still alleging that the investigation is politically motivated.

Despite Garcia's efforts, Castillo was convicted of a felony: accepting illegal campaign donations from his wrecker service.

... Dowdy Ferry's Chris Nasrallah and his associates have given more than $6,000 to Cortes' campaign since being granted towing rights, according to campaign finance reports

In both constable dramas, employees accused their bosses of retaliating against them with firings after they went to the DA.

... Eleven current and former Cortes and Evans deputies are currently suing their bosses in state district court.

Both Castillo and Cortes also have had feuds with a justice of the peace.

Castillo was accused of incompetence by former Judge Diana Orozco, who refused to let him serve her civil papers.

Cortes, who has feuded with Judge Luis Sepulveda, has refused to file traffic cases in Sepulveda's court.

... Note: Castillo, having served probation for his crime, is now a Democratic candidate for county clerk.

This is where you should stop and go to Krause's blog via the above link and read the entire article and accompanying reader responses. Two of which I had to share with you directly:

Posted by Domingo Garcia @ 1:11 AM Wed, Jan 20, 2010

Kevin,you failed to do all your home work.Aurelio Castillo was found not guilty on all charges but one.That charge was for taking a coporate donation.That charge was later dismissed by a district judge on appeal.So Castillo was cleared of all charges and was found not guilty of any alleged bribery.In the Cortes cases no charges of any kind have been filed or should be.I would hope the D.A's office would have learned from the Castillo case and the large number of wrongfully convicted people who have been exonorted in Dallas County of how in the old days people were convicted based on skin color or ethnic background not for any real crime.What you failed to mention is that JP Orozco lost her job and left the state after the trial,that may repeat itself again in 2010.In addition you failed to mention how Anglo politicians were making false charges in 1997 against Castillo and now you find Foster and Mayfield doing that same practice here.While it worked in 1997,it will not work this time.

Posted by Diana Orozco-Garrett @ 10:59 AM Fri, Jan 22, 2010

Domingo Garcia is a lying Son of a *#*! And anyone who has had any dealings with him knows this to be true! I did not "lose my job". I did not file for reelection due to a planned moved out of state. In my previous election, I drew no opposition. Sadly, I can see that not much has changed since my departure. Domingo continues to surround himself with incompetent sycophants. Didn't Domingo recently testify in Federal court that what Don Hill did was Ok because it was what he did as well! That is the one thing that has come out of his mouth that I do believe!

DallasArena.com readers know I am no fan of Domingo Garcia. I have supported his wife, Dr. Elba Garcia, who is a lovely lady. Seeing Domingo's control over her on the city council, I could never support her for any county level political office, much less the Commissioners Court.

Domingo Garcia is all the things Judge Orozco-Garrett says and more. He was a waste of space on the city council and Texas Monthly awarded him the dubious award of being the worst State Representative in Austin in 2001. The Best and the Worst Legislators: Texas Monthly July 2001 "Domingo Garcia is a one-man leper colony. Nobody wants to be around him. What's worse, the disease is self-inflicted."

Couldn't have said it better myself, but you should read the entire story. Garcia left the city council to run against State Representative Roberto Alonzo (longtime friend and godfather to Garcia's son). Garcia won and went on to be an even worse state representative than he had been a city councilman. Two years after Garcia's betrayal, Alonzo returned the favor and has held the office since. After his humiliating term in Austin, Garcia decided he had a great resume to run for Mayor of Dallas. Voters disagreed. Then Garcia tried to run for the House again when Steve Wolens decided to retire, only he didn't live in the district and the Democrats wouldn't let him on the ballot. The seat is now held with distinction by the Honorable Rafael Anchia.

The same party that would not let Garcia violate residency rules is now throwing County Judge Jim Foster under the bus. That's because the Dallas County Democratic Party is now controlled by State Sen. Royce West and Commissioner John Wiley Price. Both of whom were backing State Rep. Terri Hodge in her primary fight, until she plead guilty to one of the counts under her federal indictment. She did not plead guilty for taking bribes from Mrs. Cheryl Potashnik, who has been convicted and is facing prison time for paying those bribes to Terri Hodge. Since 2007, the entire city and county have known about the questions surrounding Hodge, but Democrats continued to elect her and Democratic Party "leaders" continued to back her. Where's the leadership?

The County Clerk position is now held by John Warren. Why is Domingo Garcia pushing Aurelio Castillo against an incumbent Democrat?

For the life of me, I cannot understand what's going on with Dallas County Democrats. My friends, former Councilman Ricardo Medrano and current Councilwoman Pauline Medrano are backing Jaime Cortes. Why? The guy is toxic. Worse, he is surrounded by even slimier creeps. Dallas County deputy constable hired, promoted despite little experience. We were not safe with the likes of Howard Watson wearing a gun. Hell, we are not safe with the likes of Jaime Cortes wearing a gun.