Reply #33: Zapata County, TX & Election Fraud (from 2004 Dem primary)

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Politics

District 28 brings back the bad old days
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/politics/stories/MYSA04.01A.recount_new_0404.236b516e.html

Web Posted: 04/04/2004 12:00 AM CST

Rebeca Rodriguez
Express-News Staff Writer

LAREDO — It reads like fiction, the bitter Democratic primary battle in the 28th Congressional District.

More coverage

* Robert Rivard: Something flunks the smell test: Déjà vu in deep South Texas
* LBJ's controversial election to the Senate part of a legacy of ballot fraud
* District 28 brings back the bad old days

But the missing votes, small-town politics, finger-pointing and soured friendships that have made it one of the more bizarre elections in Texas's colorful history are all too real.

After almost a month, Laredo lawyer Henry Cuellar has the most votes, but the winner remains in doubt. And the ballots sit in six triple-locked blue metal boxes inside a carpeted bank vault in Zapata.

Also in doubt is the political future of Ciro Rodriguez, a seven-year veteran of Congress who's on the verge of being unseated by two batches of ballots that mysteriously were not tabulated election night.

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From the turn of the century through the 1970s the county's population fluctuated between 3,800 and 4,400. Between 1980 and 1990, however, the area grew rapidly, as retirees and others attracted by the reservoir came to take advantage of the low cost of living. The population was 6,828 in 1980 and 9,279 in 1990. Although the number of Anglo residents had increased, the county remained overwhelming Hispanic; in the 1990 census 81 percent of the population identified themselves as Hispanic. In 1990 the largest town was Zapata, with 7,119 inhabitants. Politically, Zapata County has been a traditional Democratic stronghold. Although Republican presidential candidates won a number of contests during the early years of the century, Democrats outpolled their Republican counterparts in every election from 1924 to 1992. Zapata residents have also generally supported Democrats in local and statewide races. Education levels in the county have generally been quite low, although the situation has improved. In the early 1990s the county had one school district with three elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. Approximately half the high school graduates now attend college. Nearly three-fourths of the population is at least nominally Catholic, and the estimated combined membership of the area's churches exceeds 7,000. Recreation facilities in the county include the Falcon State Park,qv the San Ygnacio Historic District, Corralitos Ranch, and San Francisco Ranch. The Texas Tropical Trail, which links the counties of the lower Valley, runs through the area. There are extensive hunting opportunities throughout the year. Special events include the county fair, parade, and horse races held annually in Zapata.

http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/ZZ/hcz1.html