Operation Taco-Less: Scientology tampers with Florida Mayor

A few days ago, Lars Baehren asked what Operation Taco-Less, referred to in the Emmons Report, was. I dug this up - it's from chapter 13 of Margery Wakefield's "Understanding Scientology". It appears that the COS had given Gabriel Cazares, the then Mayor of Clearwater, FL., the vaguely racist nickname of "Taco"; you can work out for yourself the meaning of "Taco-Less"...

The Guardian's Office was also hard at work in Clearwater. Gabe Cazares, who had by now become an official enemy of the "church," was the subject of an extensive investigation referred to by the G.O. as "Operation Taco-Less."

The G.O. investigation of Cazares is of interest because it shows to what lengths Scientology will go in investigating anyone they perceive to be an "enemy."

In the write-up of this "operation," the major target was stated as:

"To insure that all investigative leads and strings left unpulled on Mayor Cazares are followed up on to discover further data about him which when released will ruin his political career and remove/restrain him as an opponent of Scientology...."

Some of the steps included in their investigation of Cazares were:

Compile a list of all clubs, associations, organizations, etc. which Gabe is or has been a member of or which he publicly supports. Obtain membership lists to these groups.
Compile a list of all the people who have written letters in the press in support of Cazares. Investigate any people who show up in both of these lists.
Conduct interviews under suitable guise with people at Bedford Air Force Base in Massachusetts to see what can be dug up about Cazares.
Obtain property records in El Paso to see which property is owned by Cazares or his wife. Interview the inhabitants of the house to see what can be learned about the Cazares.
Locate and investigate all of Cazares' relatives, including Arthur, Joseph and Edmond Cazares (brothers), and Cora P., Marjorie C. and Solidad A. (sisters). They should be investigated to find any scandal or criminal backgrounds they or their family may have.
Investigate any unknown property deals of Gabe or his wife.
Check the backgrounds of Gabe's parents in Mexico and the circumstances of their coming to this country.
Check the name of Gabe's first wife, when and where divorced and why.
Check grammar and high school records of Gabe.
Check all financial disclosure forms for the disbursement of his campaign funds. Check campaign contributors. Insure that he keeps within the letter of the law regarding contributions.
Obtain a copy of Gabe's military records.
Check political backgrounds and affiliations of all Cazares' campaign staff, looking for people with Commie or heavy leftist backgrounds, or with backgrounds which will discredit Cazares.
Obtain marriage records for the first marriage of Cazares' wife, and also the records of the divorce."