Case Study: The Old Party

Jose C. Martin Jr. "Old Party" which included the Laredo Independent School District Superintendent Vidal M. Treviño, Sheriff J.C. Martin, Sr. ,District Attorney Philip Kazen, and U.S. Representative Abraham Kazen. The Old Party survived for eighty-four years because of its ability to recruit former opponents, was under investigation for wrongdoing in office which includes the looting of taxpayers through fraudulent purchase orders, particularly for vehicle batteries. In 1978 Aldo J. Tatangelo entered the six-candidate nonpartisan race with confidence representing a new beginning, a new administration, with new ideas, and new things to do. Tatangelo wanted to challenge the "Old Party" or the "patron system," by which voters defer to one or