El Pasoans Have to Sue State Tejanos for Access to Data

Fred Cantu

The State entity for the Tejano Democrats apparently doesn't want to turn over contact information to the El Paso chapter of the organization because they are both competing for the State Chair office in an election to be held at this weekend's Tejano Democrats.

Former City Representative Eddie Holguin has filed a lawsuit to force the group to allow him access to membership data so that he can campaign for the State Chair.

According to former State Treasurer of the Tejano Democrats Fred Cantu, an unnamed State Democratic Executive Committee person from may have also leveled a veiled threat towards Democratic United States Senate Candidate Beto O'Rourke's campaign.

Cantu appeared to be really focused on a personal dislike of Othon Medina but stated that, "'To quote a SDEC member from San Antonio: "...all he is doing is alienating everyone else in the state; El Paso can not elect Beto by themselves.'"

If true, that SDEC member is potentially breaking TDP rules. Texas Democratic Party rules mandate that Party Officials, with an SDEC is, are required to support the nominee in an election. If the quote from Cantu is accurate, then the SDEC member is implying that they weren't going to support Beto O'Rourke against Ted Cruz.

All because they don't like Othon Medina. 

By Cantu's own admission, there is nothing in the State's bylaws that prevents sharing basic member contact information. 

But more importantly - if Holguin's allegations are true - which Cantu confirmed in his email exchange with me - the data being withheld is a pretty blatant example of voter disenfranchisement within an auxiliary of Texas Democratic Party.

And the flagship Latino-based auxiliary of the Democratic Party.

Current Chairman Joey Cardenas campaigned with all the chapters, including the El Paso Chapter when he ran last time. Sources within the Tejano Democrats indicate that Cardenas got the contact information, the very same information Holguin is asking for, from none other than Othon Medina. Medina was the Chair and Cardenas was running against him.

I'm not defending Medina. I've chronicled his activities more than anyone else. But this isn't about Medina. This is about fair play and a level playing field in the states premier Latino-based auxiliary o the Texas Democratic Party. This isn't the place for personal beef.

Cantu leveled other allegations in his emails including that Holguin was a "puppet" and even implied that Medina was bankrolling the memberships of the El Paso Chapter. There is absolutely no evidence to support such a claim.

I guess other parts of Texas think we poor border Mexicans can't come up with our own membership money.

The El Paso Chapter, officially known as the Paso Del Norte Chapter, has experienced tremendous growth under Holguin's leadership, primarily because Holguin has a level of credibility among Latinos in El Paso that previous leaders haven't had. Also his wife Illiana is the Chair of the El Paso Democratic Party and also has more credibility than previous chairs.

The real question is why are Latinos in other parts of Texas so set against a fair, transparent, and competitive process for the state chair seat? At a time when we Democrats are trying to hold the GOP accountable for voter suppression and disenfranchisement, the fact that getting basic contact information of members from the State Tejanos requires a lawsuit is an embarrassment.