The Indictment of Kino Flores
By Dr. Tony Magana
Is Kino Flores a political deviant or just a continuation of a political legacy of necessity?
The indictment of Texas State Representative Kino Flores this week by the Travis County grand jury for felony tampering with governmental records on multiple counts is just the latest in a growing swirl of controversy to surround the Rio Grande Valley politician in recent years.
Following his election in 1997, Flores consistently showed a keen political intuition and deftness in political affairs both at the state capital and in the Valley. His political education began however well before he was elected to the legislature. He served as an apprentice to the powerful Leo dynasty in La Joya whose influence ultimately helped connect him into a job with the state comptroller’s office in Austin where he worked for a time before returning to Hidalgo County.
Despite being from almost exclusively Democratic South Texas, Flores and some other fellow Democrats became key players in securing the election of Republican Tom Craddick to Speaker of the House. The resulting legislative sessions resulted in a powerful speaker who controlled the agenda and progress of bills very tightly. During this “glory” period for Flores and fellow allies of Craddick, the Rio Grande Valley saw significant funding increases for roads, highways, education, and more.
Albeit, last year Craddick was removed and replaced by a much less powerful but antagonistic Speaker, Joe Straus, without close ties to Flores. Unfortunately over the past two years Flores himself has been increasingly accused of accepting gifts, special favors, and not reporting income for various business and local governments as has been widely reported. Under Texas law, the lawmaker is required to file income sources, gifts received, property holdings, and real estate sales to the Texas Ethics Commission.
The indictments against Flores claim that over a five year period beginning in 2004 he failed to declare more than $115,000 every year. Some of those named as sources of the unreported income or benefits include the city of McAllen, D. Wilson Construction, Broaddus and Associates, Health Systems Resources, Inc., Rio Grande Steel, and Renegade Enterprises. His investigation was precipitated following an allegation that he received inappropriate plane rides from the La Mantia family in McAllen who have ties to the racehorse and gambling interests as well owning a Budweiser dealership. There is a accrued history of favorable consulting contracts, leases, land purchases, and other relationships between himself or his interests with those that could potentially seek illicit legislative favor.
Representative Flores was stripped of his chairmanship of the powerful committee that oversaw racing, liquor, and gambling in Texas with the downfall of Craddick. In addition, in December of 2008 the Texas Ethics Commission fined him $1,100 for improper accounting of campaign reports. This year in the legislature, he served essentially without seniority on the appropriations and border & intergovernmental affairs committee. He became a very outspoken advocate for Veterans during the legislative sessions often to the point of distractingly annoying his fellow lawmakers in meaningless ways that some say were more grandstanding than substance.
Supporters of Flores will note that the growth of the green economy of birding in the Valley, higher education especially at South Texas College, and many other things are better because we had a skillful and powerful advocate in the Texas legislature. All too often the Rio Grande Valley has historically had to struggle just to get a voice.
Unfortunately both his supporters and detractors have to admit that now that voice is muted. Already stripped of his seniority and influence added to having to face felony criminal charges which will likely take years to resolve even if he is ultimately acquitted, one must question what benefit will there be to him or his constituents to continue holding his seat in the legislature?
The Texas Monthly labeling of Kino Flores as one of Texas’s worse legislators is truly disingenuous. By default it portrays that the other members of the legislature are contrarily different. Instead our part time legislature is full of back door deals and political swaps. Their minimal hearings on issues and lack of media attention due to the demise of the newspaper has given the whole Texas legislature carte blanche.
 |
 |
 |
 |
|---|
The reality is that at this point, Kino Flores needs to focus on his defense and the welfare of his family. His demotion and indictment have rendered him indisputably unable to represent South Texas District 36 effectively. His continued presence in the legislature will become a handicap for the region. This does not mean or imply that he is guilty of any wrongdoing.
Should we condemn Rep. Flores as a totally wayward deviant from proper legislative conduct or he is just a very visible symptom of a much deeper hidden cancer in the state government? There is still a regional discrimination against the Rio Grande Valley in state politics. Long ago political machinery was developed as a means to compensate for this bias and today it still serves as the principle route of political advancement. Was Flores just applying what had been passed down as political reality for the past 50 years?
The State of Texas has to change the way it deals with the Rio Grande Valley and hopefully then we can change the way we do politics so that in the future we will not need a Kino Flores to get done what needs to get done.
Thanks for reading Contempo Magazine blog which discusses issues for McAllen, the Rio Grande Valley, and America from a conservative Hispanic point of view. Tony Magaña grew up in McAllen Texas, attended Texas A&M University, served as an officer in Army Reserve, and holds a doctorate from Harvard University. The co-founder of Contempo Magazine has participated in Valley business for over 20 years. He is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and also writes for the American Daily Review. Follow him on twitter http://twitter.com/contempomagazin
Copyright 2009, Dr. Tony Magana. Some rights reserved.
To reproduce or distribute, visit: drtonymagana.icopyright.com
 |
|---|
