Activist calls for protection against evil spirits in election

With his hands holding his hat before the unnecessary microphone, the tall figure of Alex Resendez and his thunderous voice held the attention of all.

Before him - silent and with heads bowed - were candidates in today's Brownsville's election for three seats on the City Commission.

During Resendez's April 28 invocation, candidates stood ready to address the standing-room-only crowd in the Brownsville Public Library.

But after Resendez's invocation, today's election should be free of unknown, unwarranted and unwel-come intervention after he banished evil spirits from affecting the candidates and electoral contest.

Resendez, a reverend and political activist, is different in his approach to politics. He believes that evil spirits are real in the world and wants to keep them out of the electoral process.

He fervently believes in the democratic process: "It is for the people and by the people," he said of government and the candidate forum he hosted as the chairman of the newly organized Concerned Citi-zens Committee.

He also believes that witchcraft, or brujeria, has no place in elections and, just prior to the forum's start, beseeched Christ during the invocation to banish any witchcraft attempts against the candidates and the election.

"Si existe (it exists)," Resendez said Thursday of brujeria, in which one casts spells for a given out-come.

Voters are expected to cast their ballots instead of spells today.

Now retired, 69-year-old Resendez, who frequently provides the starting prayer at City Commission meetings and is not shy about expressing views on the issues of the day, worked in the aviation industry and used to be a barber.

He said he could be deemed an evangelist, who is an ordained reverend of three United Christian churches. His Divine Light Christian Church and Ministerial Association is incorporated in the state.

The invocation's note on witchcraft was included because, as Resendez said "at least three people were at the forum who have been possessed by demons and I've helped them."

He was not referring to candidates, although he can trace his affliction for politics to the age of 11 or 15. That is when his Tio (Uncle) Resendez and contemporaries were deeply involved in politics and im-mersed him, also.

Resendez volunteers that he has been called a politiquero (paid political worker who hauls voters to the polls). "You can call me what you want, the chairman, the janitor, whatever," he said.

He has worked elections throughout the years, providing telephone banks to candidates.

But at the forum, he provided each and every person in attendance the opportunity to ask candidates what they wished, without screening questions. However, all the candidates, present or not, were treated fairly and with respect.

"Five minutes ... " library staff urged through an intercom, noting that it was closing time.

No one paid attention.

"I'm just trying to help," Resendez said of his civic engagement.

Practically all seats remained filled.

eperez-trevino@brownsvilleherald.com