Changes

Martin's "Old Party" — officially the "Independent Club" — survived for eighty-four years because of its ability to recruit former opponents. In the latter years, however, it failed to bring in younger members and could not adapt to the changing [[demographics]] of the county. Martin told Bill Moyers that the "Old Party" had succeeded in its heyday because many Laredo voters felt too uninformed to make their own political choices in elections and preferred a "patron" to make such decisions for them.<ref name=indpclub>{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/wmiqt|title=Independent Club|publisher=Texas State Historical Association on-line|accessdate=April 17, 2015}}</ref>

Martin's "Old Party" — officially the "Independent Club" — survived for eighty-four years because of its ability to recruit former opponents. In the latter years, however, it failed to bring in younger members and could not adapt to the changing [[demographics]] of the county. Martin told Bill Moyers that the "Old Party" had succeeded in its heyday because many Laredo voters felt too uninformed to make their own political choices in elections and preferred a "patron" to make such decisions for them.<ref name=indpclub>{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/wmiqt|title=Independent Club|publisher=Texas State Historical Association on-line|accessdate=April 17, 2015}}</ref>

The leadership "Old Party" also included Laredo Independent School District Superintendent Vidal M. Treviño, Martin's father, [[Sheriff]] J. C. Martin, Sr. (1886–1957), [[District Attorney]] Philip Kazen, and [[U.S. Representative]] Abraham Kazen, who lost his House seat in the 1984 Democratic primary to Albert Bustamante, a more [[liberal]] Democrat from [[San Antonio]].

The leadership "Old Party" also included Laredo Independent School District Superintendent Vidal M. Treviño, Martin's father, [[Sheriff]] J. C. Martin, Sr. (1886–1957), Webb County District Attorney Philip Kazen, and [[U.S. Representative]] Abraham Kazen, who lost his House seat in the 1984 Democratic primary to Albert Bustamante, a more [[liberal]] Democrat from [[San Antonio]], later convicted of crimes.

Tatangelo won his second and third terms under the city manager format. In 1982, Tatangelo trailed in the primary but won the runoff election against former city council member Mercurio Martinez, Jr.<ref name=mmartinez>{{cite web|url=http://www.tamiu.edu/oatah/rmendiola/documents/MercurioMartinezJr..pdf|title=Mercurio Martinez, Jr.|publisher=tamiu.edu|accessdate=April 28, 2014}}</ref> Tatangelo was term-limited under the charter and could not seek a fourth term in 1990. Laredo mayors are restricted to two consecutive four-year terms plus up to two years of an unexpired term. They may run again after sitting out a term. In Texas, all mayors and city council members are elected on nonpartisan ballots.

Tatangelo won his second and third terms under the city manager format. In 1982, Tatangelo trailed in the primary but won the runoff election against former city council member Mercurio Martinez, Jr.<ref name=mmartinez>{{cite web|url=http://www.tamiu.edu/oatah/rmendiola/documents/MercurioMartinezJr..pdf|title=Mercurio Martinez, Jr.|publisher=tamiu.edu|accessdate=April 28, 2014}}</ref> Tatangelo was term-limited under the charter and could not seek a fourth term in 1990. Laredo mayors are restricted to two consecutive four-year terms plus up to two years of an unexpired term. They may run again after sitting out a term. In Texas, all mayors and city council members are elected on nonpartisan ballots.