More Confirmations from Former MAD Leadership

Another member of the executive committee of the Camino Real Mexican American Democrats has come forward to confirm their departure from the group.

Dora Oaxaca, Vice Chair of the organization and a senior staffer to County Commissioner (and future congressional hopeful) Willie Gandara Jr.

“I am confirming our resignation from MAD”, Oaxaca stated. Oaxaca went on to elaborate that their (hers and Willie Gandara Sr) centered on the revelation that the organization had been formed as a sole proprietorship.

Upon being asked about taxes and reporting requirements Oaxaca replied, “Those are some of the issues and questions that we have.”

Clarification

I wanted to clarify a couple of issues that I’ve written about. First, when I stated that Alfredo Longoria worked for Reps Chavez and Marquez, I was talking about doing campaign volunteer work. He was not, nor did I state as such, employed by either candidate.

Another point of clarification I wanted to make was that it is possible that the reason that Rick Armendariz was no longer the proprietor could have been because he became a lobbyist at one point and lobbyists have lots of rules they have to comply with.

Yet more questions

If you are wondering what requirements Camino Real MAD has for filing and reporting, you are not alone. I checked with the Secretary of State’s Office and MAD is not registered as a Political Action Committee. However, some other chapters of MAD are listed as PACS.

To be fair, neither is the Paso Del Norte Tejano Democrats, something I wrote about several months ago when they made a contribution to Naomi Gonzalez, Brian Haggerty, and Norma Favela. Favela and Haggerty did not cash the checks and I’m not sure what Gonzalez’s final decision on that issue was.

Here is the Texas Campaign Finance Guide for Political Committees if you want to check it out for yourself.

I am wondering if the Camino Real Mexican American Democrats is even officially affiliated with the state organization at this point. I tried finding information on the state website for the Mexican American Democrats of Texas, but quite frankly, its not an updated website.

The next meeting of the Camino Real Mexican American Democrats was scheduled for Monday, however it has been postponed for a week because the leadership from the state MAD was supposed to be in town to address the membership.

Something else to watch out for…

Frequently when local leaders find themselves in a political bind, they often fight back in message forums and blogs via comments. Often they will attack the people involved, the people who wrote about it, or whomever else is their perceived enemy at the moment as a way of taking attention away from the situation they find themselves in. They often will create a false internet “identity” to engage in their internet subterfuge.

I know, its juvenile, pointless, and vindictive, but it happens nonetheless. This is an issue that I deal with on a regular basis. It would not surprise me in the least bit if it happens again, if it hasn’t happened already.

U R Not My Friend, Part 2

Apparently there has already been some fallout from the recent developments in the world of social networking. Alfredo Longoria has been de-friended (or un-friended, whatever is correct) by Representative Chavez, but not before she left him a parting remark.

"My parents are very disappointed in your actions. Good luck to you! Goodbye"