No, despite what ousted Ector County GOP Chairwoman Tisha Crow’s husband suggested Tuesday night, Odessa City Councilman Gilbert Vasquez did not change his party affiliation.
“I’m a staunch Democrat. I’ve been a Democrat my whole life,” Vasquez said minutes after Odessa Development Corporation Chairman Kris Crow presented him a copy of former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee’s book, “God, Guns, Grits and Glory.”
Crow said he’d been going through the numbers from last March’s election and came to realize that the council is “100% Republican” for the first time in a long time. He also called himself a “right wing nut job.”
“Councilman Vasquez, thank you so much for seeing the light. Welcome to the Republican side of the table,” Crow said.
Vasquez said he is absolutely positive Crow is well aware he only voted in the Republican primary for one reason.
“I only jumped the fence so that I could vote against his wife and all of the others that were causing so much trouble in this community for the Republican Party,” Vasquez said. “The majority of my friends are Republicans and we get along fine, but these people play dirty.”
Vasquez said he even posted Tisha Crow’s opponent’s sign in his front yard in the weeks leading up to the election. Donna Kelm defeated Tisha Crow by a vote of 4,954 to 3,775.
Vasquez said his phone started “blowing up” after Tuesday’s meeting, but he doesn’t think Crow’s comments will have any significant impact on his reputation.
“He was just trying to degrade me or I guess embarrass me or maybe even make me upset, but none of those things happened because my shield is my spirituality,” Vasquez said. “I let the Lord shield me from what I consider Satanic attacks on me as a person. We all get subjected to ugliness in this world and the Crows are living proof and (Odessa Development Corporation Vice Chairman) Jeff Russell is another one. These people profess to be Christians, but they’re really hypocrites and they don’t really live up to being Christians.”
In the days following the meeting, Councilmembers Denise Swanner and Mark Matta and Mayor Javier Joven condemned Crow’s actions via social media.
Both Swanner and Matta in the meeting video appear to be laughing during Crow’s rant about Vasquez. They were called out on social media for doing so and then later condemning what Crow had done after numerous Odessans posted support for Vasquez.
Elected precinct chair Dallas Kennedy via Faceboook called on the city council to remove Crow from his appointed ODC position as president. Kennedy also pointed out that Joven had the authority and could have stopped Crow.
Kennedy wrote: “While Mr. Vasquez might not be a fellow Republican, he is my brother in Christ and a person God has appointed over us in a position of authority. He should be shown the utmost respect when he is serving in his position. The conduct violated the City of Odessa Charter for decorum during a meeting.”
Swanner, Matta and Joven are all up for re-election in November.
Longtime Odessa attorney Cal Hendrick announced his run for mayor on Wednesday and Meals on Wheels Director and longtime Odessan Craig Stoker plans to seek Swanner’s seat.
Hendrick announced his run to a packed city council chamber Wednesday and has said he looks forward to a positive campaign. Stoker will announce at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Copper Rose Building in Downtown Odessa.
No one has publicly announced for Matta’s seat although several have indicated an intention to seek the seat. Matta released a statement last week apologizing for inappropriate text messages to “someone other than his wife.”
Matta said the inappropriate behavior ended a year ago, but he decided to issue the apology Friday, July 5.
