A candidate seeking a county judge seat in South Texas has been accused of threatening a local party chairman.
According to the Texas Tribune, Rudy Bowles, a Democrat who is currently in a runoff for Maverick County Judge, reportedly left a message on his local party chairman's answering machine that has been called threatening. In the message, the county chair says that Bowles threatened to send a drug cartel after the chairman if the candidate did not get his way.
"I need to know right away," Bowles said, referring to receiving a list of election judges. "If you don’t call me within 30 minutes, I am going to call the damn Zetas from across the river and they’re going looking for you, OK. Call me please, I don’t want to have to do that."
Bowles was charged with harassment and was released from the Maverick County Jail on a $3,000 bond, according to the Tribune.
In a statement posted to his Facebook page, Bowles said that he did not mean to threaten county chairman Luis Ruiz and that he meant the comment as a joke.
"I like to joke around at times, but I do not in any way, shape or form belong to any violent organization and I am not perfect — believe me, by no means — but I also at times make mistakes and I apologize for them," Bowles said. "I’m human, I make mistakes."
Bowles is currently locked in a Democratic runoff with David Saucedo for the Democratic Party's nomination for Maverick County Judge. Voters will decide that election tonight.
Photo by Bowles Campaign