Please allow of this letter to respond to Mrs. Shuey's accusations in last weeks paper, regarding the upcoming Willacy County Navigation District election. The election will be for 5 new board members to replace the 3 now on the board. Mrs. Shuey accuses the district of exclusion and discriminatory treatment of women and Hispanics. Charges of discrimination are serious and should include some evidence; the only proof Mrs. Shuey offers is that no Hispanic or woman has ever served on the WCND board. That same charge could also be leveled at the county commissioners' court where no Hispanic woman has been elected county judge and only recently was a woman elected for commissioner, where Mrs. Dora Perez, in Precinct 4, will take office in January, 2011. Also, Texas has never had an Hispanic woman governor; is the whole state guilty of this charge?

WCND has always held its elections in accordance with state requirements. The District was not 'compelled' to publish the notice placed in the paper recently but did so voluntarily. There are hundreds of small, taxing districts across this state included drainage, irrigation, navigation, subsidence and utility districts. Every election held by these small political subdivisions is dependent on the candidates to get out and educate the voters about their unique issues and ask for their vote, not through notices in newspapers.

Mrs. Shuey is also wrong about the District being unable to conduct a "fair and proper election." The District opted to have Jaime Serna, Willacy County Elections Administrator, conduct it's last election 3 years ago and prior to that date, held it's own elections every two years since 1948. Jaime Serna has already been contacted about holding the November 2, 2010 election for WCND. The incomplete ballot application form was my fault for not loading legal size paper in the printer, a mistake which was corrected on all other applications.

Most readers will see through these discrimination charges and concerns about precinct lines, forms, and polling places as one candidate's attempt at a form of sympathy to help her campaign.

Willacy County Navigation District does hereby encourage good men and women of all races arid cultures, who care about Port Mansfield, to run for the office of Navigation and Canal Commissioner. Details are available by calling 956-689-3332.

Sincerely,

Michael Wilson

Port Director