Club shuts book on name

The "mayor" portion of the "Mayor's Book of the Month Club" has been erased.

The project, sponsored by the United Way of Southern Cameron County, points to an expansion of the children's reading program. But Mayor Pat M. Ahumada Jr. calls the change in the title "political."

"Isn't it amazing?" he said. "Politics gets in the way, and unfortunately we are seeing politics at play. If it's one of their chosen, it's OK. If not, they find ways to put their own in."

Ahumada blames agency President Traci Wickett for the change, suggesting that he and she were at odds politically.

"It's very unfortunate that the mayor feels that way," Wickett said.

She said the UWSCC board voted this week to expand the project and rename it the United Way Children's Book Club.

Agency board Chairman Robert Rodriguez, the police chief of South Padre Island, said politics was never a consideration. "No way," said Rodriguez, adding that it makes no sense to create "an enemy."

"Our task is to make decisions that are in the best interest of the organization and communities, not an individual," Rodriguez said.

Developed by UWSCC, in partnership with the city and the Brownsville Public Library, the monthly reading program started in 2006 under former mayor Eddie Treviño Jr.

The name change indicates a change from a Brownsville-only program partially funded by the city to a geographically larger program funded by the agency and its grants, Wickett said.

The program expanded to Los Fresnos and Port Isabel.

"The board had a good discussion. Certainly, one consideration is the difficult burden that it places on a single person to be there every month," Wickett said. "That obviously is tough, especially for an elected official, when demands of time are considerable to begin with."

The agency took over the funding in March 2007, but the program was not renamed then because a change in the city's administration also was under way.

"It would have sent the wrong message," she said.

Ahumada said he initially missed several readings after his election last year, because he had been so busy with city business.

"The only times (I missed) were when I was out of town," he said.

Wickett said that was never an issue. She said the agency is grateful to the city and the library for collaborating on the project, which promotes literacy.

"This expansion will give other local celebrities and elected officials an opportunity to emphasize the importance of reading to young children, the way the mayor has since the club was formed," she said.

The next reading is from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. today at the Gladys Porter Zoo, under the Eagle's Nest Palapa.

Ahumada is scheduled to read "Henny Penny/Pollita Chiquita" by H. Werner Zimmermann.

Children will receive a free copy of the book, while supplies last. The event is free with regular paid admission or zoo membership.

Ahumada on Friday said he was making sure he was expected because he wanted to avoid any embarrassment.

The agency plans to recognize his efforts today.