Meet the Good Government League's Marissa Martinez

 

By María Eugenia Guerra

 

" County Judge Bruni has been the Good Government League's best membership recruiting tool."

Marissa Martinez

 

 

Concerned over the Webb County administration's failure to post a legal notice that had been advertised in the newspaper, former county employee Marissa G. Martinez asked a few questions last March of the administration's constituents relations clerk, got a few bad answers, asked a few more, was treated poorly, and was threatened with incarceration by Judge Louis Bruni's bailiff.

"I was escorted from the building, told I had to call back if I wanted to enter the building, a building my tax dollars pay for," Martinez said.

Thus was born the Good Government League.

"I addressed this situation in a letter to the Commissioners Court and ended up being called by Judge Bruni, who asked not once, but three times, 'What's your problem?'"

According to Martinez , Bruni's chief of staff Raul Casso, in an effort to calm the situation, assured her that constituents and taxpayers would never be treated that way again. "The next time I went into the courthouse building, I was once again threatened with incarceration and told to move from handicapped parking," said Martinez , who has disabilities from a back injury sustained while she was a county employee and whose vehicle displays a disabled parking permit. Martinez said that the bailiff who told her to move violatedthe federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

"Judge Bruni has been the Good Government League's best membership recruiting tool. His lack of respect for taxpayers who do not agree with him is well documented on Public Access TV. He is arrogant and in my opinion provides no leadership and he does not believe he works for the people of this county," Martinez said, adding, "He is a throwback to other times when people were threatened with incarceration or the loss of jobs for not going along with the wishes of the administration."

Martinez observed that it is obvious to her during Commissioners Court proceedings who is in favor with the administration and who is not. "If you are with them, you may speak freely. If you are not, your three minutes are up," she said, adding, "He is rude, confrontational, and unprofessional."

There are other examples, Martinez said, of Bruni's "blatant disregard for open government." She said, "He is cowardly, like an overgrown child who has tasted power. He is incompetent to understand how government works."

Martinez continued, "At a budget hearing, a public hearing, at which I raised the question about the experience of his constituent relations officer in relation to her salary, he blew a fuse, defended his staff member, and told me he would not allow my opinion to impugn her. He threatened me with removal from the hearing. I reminded him the only way he could have me removed is if there was a vote to remove me. After I sat down, he told me publicly that I reminded him of his ex-wife."

Those strange, off-color public pronouncements, Martinez said, "Aren't just rude. They are unprofessional, petty, and an indication that this public official lacks control of his emotions and is unable to sustain procedure for the conduct of public business. Judge Louis H. Bruni has become the elephant in the room that everyone maneuvers around, that no one will call by its name. He is the poster child for the call for every registered voter to come out of the woodwork to ensure this kind of public official is never again elected. County government is being run by a man I believe is a narcissistic, self-centered egomaniac with the emotional maturity of a child. It could be said not only of him but also of some of the commissioners that if stupidity were against the law, they would be incarcerated and serving life sentences. They are not very good examples of stewards of open government, government in the sunshine." She recalled the comment of one commissioner in particular who announced for the record, and with a bit of relish, at the firing of risk manager Janie Puente, "We didn't have the votes to do this before, but we do now." "Doesn't that indicate that the commissioners, some of them, discuss things well in advance and among themselves before they take action in public?" Martinez asked.

Martinez said it is not only constituents at the public podium who are the objects of Bruni's wrath. "When he tells a commissioner to shut up, he is telling the commissioner's constituents to shut up."

Of the recent removal petition initiated by Bruni's arch foe Poncho Casso, who once served with Bruni on the Laredo City Council and who wants to be the next Webb County Judge, Martinez said. "Surely someone will file another petition to have Judge Bruni removed.”

Martinez continued, "For the moment county government and its leadership are the focus of the Good Government League. How could it not be? But it should be noted that the GGL is interested in the workings of any governing body that spends public money -- school boards and city government included -- and we want to hear the concerns of taxpayers. New members are welcome and so are their contributions, which help us with the making of open records requests. We have an anonymous web page for tips about problems in local government and we have a page about the GGL and a place for dialogue." Martinez said she works with a core group of about 20 members of the Good Government League which enjoys a membership of about 100. She said the group is in the process of incorporating as a 501(c)3.

"It should also be noted that the opinions I have expressed in this interview about Judge Bruni are mine and mine alone and do not reflect the opinions of the GGL," Martinez said.

She said she is not afraid of reprisals. "It is unusual for a woman to be vocal and adamant. It causes them discomfort, but what can they come after -- my medication? I don't take well to threats or bullying. I do a great amount of research and double checking. I work off of documents," she said.

For more information about the Good Government League in Laredo, go to www.geocities.com/ ggloflaredo/ or e-mail Goodgovernmentleague@ yahoogroups.com.