The man who wants to replace 197th State District Judge Migdalia Lopez in the March 2 Democratic Primary election has some serious tax problems, the Chronicle/News has learned.

Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP of Brownsville are the tax attorney for Willacy County, the Raymondville and Lyford school districts and the cities of Raymondville and Lyford.

The tax attorneys have filed Lawsuit # 20l0-CV-0044-A against Juan Angel Guerra whose address is listed at 305 W. Hidalgo Ave., Raymondville, TX 78580-3527.

In the lawsuit they charge that Guerra owes a total of $10,998. to the county, two school districts and two cities in the county and that some of the delinquent taxes date back to 2000.

From 1997 until 2008 Juan Guerra was the county and district attorney before losing his job to Bernard Ammerman. During those years Guerra was paid a salary of $140,000 plus benefits.

According to the lawsuit Guerra owes taxes on several lots in Sebastian as well as on an office building in Raymondville, and his homestead in Sebastian.

On his Raymondville office building Guerra owes $1,824.99 to Willacy County; to the City of Raymondville; $2,055.36 to Raymondville ISD for a subtotal of $4,978.40.

On one of his Sebastian properties Guerra owes $1,715.59 to the Lyford CISD.

Tax attorneys for Linebarger, Goggan Blair & Sampson said they cannot explain how Guerra was able to avoid paying property taxes for up to eight years, but they do not believe that his position as district attorney had anything to do with it.

"We go by case numbers, not by names, said one.

"Sometimes when there are a number of small amounts involved it is not cost effect to go after them until they reach a certain amount," said another.