Linda Salazar:...Oft-Criticized, But Still Undefeated...

 

By EDUARDO PAZ-MARTINEZ

BROWNSVILLE, Texas | She admits to being a courthouse gopher back in the 1980s, before she got an actual position on then-County Clerk Joe Rivera's staff. That was a long time ago, Linda Salazar tells me midway through a telephone interview this week. Some 25 years later, after that, she became the first elected Justice of The Peace here.

And now it's been four full terms and almost 20 more years. Miss Salazar, shown in red shirt in photo above, has once again posted herself for reelection. Not bad for a career JP now going on 70 years of age and carrying a bill of good health from her doctor. If she wins, well, there's the latest contemporary elections legend - a clearcut example of a politician doing something right.

Her opponent is a gent named Joe Elizarde, retired from the Cameron County Sheriff's office.

Elizarde's the latest wannabe to challenge her for stewardship of the Precinct 2, Place 1 court, one popular with couples out to get married, some repeat customers. Cameron County counts 10 JPs, three of them stationed in Brownsville. Alongside of her work well-connected JPs Mary Esther Sorola and newbie Cyndi Hinojosa.

So, sure, we asked: To what does Linda Salazar owe her popularity with voters?

"I love my work," she told me. "I love helping people in my community. People come to me for help, and I guide them."

When asked why yet another four-year term, Miss Salazar (shown at left with former State Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr) said, "I'm not ready to retire at all. I'm ready to go one more time. I had two opponents last election."

She's paid her required $1,000 candidate fee and now awaits either more challengers or the primary election next March 5th.

She is aware of the vato criticism she gets from local bloggers, but then tells me that she never reads their harsh, always one-sided content. "I do respect their right to their opinions about me," Judge Salazar added. "I just don't have the time." She doesn't name the bloggers. That is telling, although perhaps she really does not care about what they're doing. Writing her down, we mean.

Winning five terms in the same office is rare in the Rio Grande Valley, although if it's going to happen the little-publicized JPs are the ones to do it. Short of wild criticism from local bloggers who never call her for comment on their stories about her, Linda Salazar (shown at right with Cameron County D.A. Luis V. Saenz) simply keeps moving and doing her job. If any of the criticism is true, well, it doesn't seem to have bothered or hurt her at the polls. In fact, she's won more than most here, including some of the better-known names.

Winning elections for almost 20 years in a row is something to admire.

"I'm ready to rock 'n roll!" she says near the end of our telephone conversation.

Knowing what you know about her winning campaigns for office, you tend to believe it. You can only apply that sentiment to someone who first sought public office at the turn of the new century and who in all likelihood will be around to welcome the dawn of the Year 2030... at her desk - working it for an admirable span of three decades.

Linda Salazar is still in the political ring and is still undefeated...

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