Amparo Bazan

Amparo Bazan: We would visit people and if they wanted somebody to take them to vote, we would do that. But usually the people that we know, they wanted a ride and take them. Make sure that they voted, or go and give them a ballot, or not a ballot... But Walo knew everybody. So it wasn't hard. Everybody would... But there was people that you had to take them, carry them, and sometimes help them... But I felt everything was fine. Now everything is automatic and still... The last time that we had elections, I took Cata, my sister-in-law, to vote and she voted. Now, you can vote in the car if you're old. I don't like to do it, because I know how hard it was for somebody to come and be there. As long as I can walk, I go inside and vote. They say, "You don't have to. We'll bring the machine to you." And now, cómo [inaudible]. It's a little one. It's not too big. But no, I've never voted in the car. But I took Cata one time and Eva, her sister, last time that there was elections. So that's how I... That's what I did.

Cristina Salinas: Well, do you feel like when you were getting involved, you were also trying to... What were you trying to do with the community also?

Amparo Bazan: With the community?

Cristina Salinas: Yeah. What were you, you were trying to...

Amparo Bazan: Well, whenever they told the commissioners or the people that we want, that will help improve the city and things like that. I would try to help when the people in the offices are doing their work, that improves a lot of things. Make sure that the roads are... That the money is not being spent on nothing. It's helping everybody, make better roads, make sure that there's lights, so people... A lot of things, you know?. And now I feel that they've created a lot of jobs because the city has grown so much. All this money that's coming in helps for them to hire more people and all that. That's how I feel that Elsa has improved. And it helps all of us because you... In the first place, you like to see cleanness. You like to see not junk all over the place. Have you ever been to Edcouch? In the back roadside in Edcouch? You've never been there?. You should go one day. I feel so sorry for these people. There's houses with trash all over. And I mean, not everywhere, but there's a lot of places that are abandoned and then people go to throw trash in there.

Cristina Salinas: And so when you noticed, you mentioned that if people were doing a good job or you felt like they were benefiting the community, you would try to help. And how would you try to help?

Amparo Bazan: Well, one thing is by making sure that the people are there in administrations, the ones that get voted in, are people that are conscious of that they too want to improve. Not just to make money and put it in their pockets like some people do, some places. I know that thing that happened in Weslaco. So sad now that they're on trial, the millions and millions of dollars that they, those Cuellars and them you... They're rich people, and then they want more money. And that's what you think, "Why are they taking..." That money was coming from people, poor people that pay taxes. You have to dish out your money. And I felt like, if you get good, honest people there, they're going to do their job. And it helps everybody. It improves the town. They work on the roads. They do a lot of things for the people. And plus, like I said, create jobs that I see a lot of people, working on the streets, not on the streets, cleaning even. They come on the tractorcito, cleaning the little trail that walks them to... There's still some children that walk to school. We have a school on the next block. So all those things, if you improve the city, it improves everything. That's what I think.

Cristina Salinas: How do you think that other people in your community saw you in terms of the work that you did for la políitica or organizing?

Amparo Bazan: I'm going to tell you something. I didn't do a lot like some other people. I didn't. Maybe I would take some very close friends to vote, people that, ah if you don't take them, they won't go vote. And now that we're old, á Maria le digo, you request a ballot by mail because like, "No, I don't want to go." Sometimes you don't want to go. To me, I'm not saying that I got very, very involved. Ay no. Cuando Walo corría, then tampoco I got involved because then I was working inside the... And I couldn't be talking to people to go, like when somebody comes in and somebody would say, "Who do you think?" "I can't tell you, especially in there. I can't tell you. I could tell you outside. At your house." But there was one lady, "Who do I vote for?" "I can't tell you. I mean, don't you know? You came to vote." "No. No, y tú por qué vas a votar?" "I can't tell you." You know, because you don't want to get in trouble for saying something like that. But people sometimes, they just, “Who do you think is the best?" Because if I'm at their house, "Well, I think this person is this and that." But not at the polling place.

Cristina Salinas: And why do you think they would ask you for advice about that?

Amparo Bazan: Because some people… They trust me because they've known me for a long time and they think that I'll give them a good answer. And to them it doesn't matter. But maybe they do want something better, too, for the city or for whatever. But me... There's a lady, and I like her very much, and oh, but she's something else. And she would take people when I was working, and I would tell her, "Oh, please don't tell them. Tell them before you come here. Don't tell them there, you're going to get in trouble." You can get in trouble. And if somebody reports you, you did this or that, you can get in trouble. They're not going to put you in jail, but you probably get a fine or something.

Amparo Bazan: You like to do things straight. But if you ask me... There was people, I don't know if I'm repeating myself, "Who do you think I should vote for? And you, right there, "I can't tell you. If I tell you, I'm going to get in trouble." Things like that. Pero no. As time goes on, there's more people that get educated and do, they will pay attention. But there's people that don't care about elections and, "Oh, it's going to be an election, and who are we going to vote for?" People that you think would be smart. I try to keep up. Not close. I don't go to meetings. I don't go to anything anymore. But then it's people that are not close to us now. Because my brother, the commissioners, and this and that. So we would get involved, but when they would run for office. César never did. Neto tampoco. Pero Junior did run, verdad?. Renee. Y qué más?

Amparo Bazan: Talking to people and things like that, I think a woman does a better job.

Cristina Salinas: Why do you think so?

Amparo Bazan: Because if it's women, you can communicate. And if it's men, usually men, there's a lot of men that trust women. Like sometimes they want to know, este, why? And what happens? And where is the money going? Or things like that. And if, if, I think women trust the women more than trusting a man. And I usually depend on women, so I never knew men that depended on me to explain things to him. I don't think it ever happened. So I think a woman can talk to a woman and explain, especially if you know a little bit about politics, you know,. "This is why we're trying to do this. This is why we're trying to get into, you know, getting this election because it'll help in this way, in that way. Um, and uh…" Well, I don't know. If a woman comes and talks to me, I feel that maybe I feel more comfortable. So I would think that other women would. So…