I reposted this because this is an election I deeply, deeply care about. Please vote for Judge Danny Rios for the 449th Juvenile District Court!
In the weeks before election day I’ve had the opportunity to interact with many Republicans and Democrats across the valley, those who are up for re-election, those who volunteer their weekends to their candidates and those who are willing to sacrifice a lot for the good of the community.
This is Jesse Contreras:
Candidate for Judge Jesse Contreras has resorted to lying and smearing his opponent, incumbent Judge Danny Rios.
Jesse Contreras, who has been arrested twice for DWI, has lied on the record:
During an interview with The Monitor this week, Contreras took issue with an automated phone bank employed by the Rios campaign that placed pre-recorded calls to numbers across Hidalgo County.
In the message, the Democrat said, Rios’ campaign accuses Contreras’ father of being a child molester.
“I didn’t even know my father,” Contreras said. “(Those claims) are a possibility for a future defamation lawsuit.”
No one in the Mercedes area contacted by The Monitor reported receiving the negative calls, and Contreras’ claims could not be independently verified.
Rios flatly denies his opponent’s claim about the message. The Rios campaign is using automated calls, the Republican acknowledged, but the message only replays an audio version of TV ads questioning Contreras’ criminal history and judicial conduct.
Smears and lies aren’t anything new to this Democrat challenger but this one takes the cake.
I sat with Danny Rios and chatted about his vision for the 449th Court. He explained his philosophy, background, beliefs and offered words of wisdom to a young conservative aspiring a career in politics. He took the time to explain to me how the automated call system works. In fact, this isn’t the first time I’ve been introduced to an automated call system, though it’s still something pretty new to the Rio Grande Valley
Let’s present the facts:
1. Jesse Contreras is willing to lie and slander his opponent for his own personal political gain
2. Jesse Contreras has been arrested twice for DWI
I don’t know about you, but my choice for Judge of the 449th District Court was easy: Danny Rios.
More from the piece in the Monitor:
A scheduled debate between the candidates Thursday at a McAllen Citizens League luncheon could have offered a chance to clear the air and refocus the campaign on issues surrounding the court – such as its future focusing on juvenile justice.
Contreras has said he would like the court’s scope broadened to include cases with adult defendants. Rios maintains the county needs a court focused specifically on young offenders.
But Contreras backed out of the debate this week, citing his busy campaign schedule.
League leaders said during the luncheon, however, that the candidate explained his withdrawal to them by saying that McAllen doesn’t support him and that he would rather focus his efforts elsewhere.
Jesse, as a judge you’ll have to face a variety of tasks–including multiple cases and in your case maybe your own DWI trial, but not giving citizens a chance to hear you out is just poor judgment.
I’ll conclude with one last quote from Contreras:
“I’m not perfect. I understand,” he said. “But I’ve worked my butt off to be an example to my brothers and the community.
I’m not sure what example he’s trying to set, but smearing a sitting judge with disgusting lies in an attempt for political gain and being arrested TWICE for DWI doesn’t set a good example, especially to the juveniles who would be tried in the 449th Juvenile District Court.
I voted for Danny Rios, an honest man with a great family, a good vision and proven leadership. I urge you to join me in supporting Judge Danny Rios for the 449th District Court.
