When asked whether racism is fueling his opposition against a Mexican restaurant opening in downtown Mount Vernon, the town’s mayor, Bud Norris, tells KING-5 “I find the implication outrageous and I resent it.”Norris deserves the benefit of the doubt here. After all, the reason for his opposition may not be because he doesn’t like Latinos. It may be simply because the owners of the competing bar across the street from the proposed Mexican joint are campaign donors of his. As we told you yesterday, Norris has opposed two separate Mexican restaurants/bars receiving liquor licenses at 517 S. First St. in the last year or so–the latest a place called Calle Tacos Tequila.He’s said that his reason for the opposition is because the address has a history of crime. The Skagit Valley Herald, however, pulled 911 records for that address and it turns out that police have only responded to 16 calls there since 2000.The bar across the street, Draft Pic’s, meanwhile, has had a whopping 471 calls to police fielded in that time.Norris explains the difference, saying “Draft Pic’s is in a much larger building.”What he doesn’t mention is that Lawrence and Lance Pirkle, owners of Draft Pic’s, were some of the top contributors to his campaign in 2007, the last time he ran.According to campaign-contribution records looked at by Seattle Weekly Lawrence Pirkle gave $500 to Norris’ campaign and Lance Pirkle gave $100. The amount of money isn’t enormous, to be sure, but in the world of small-town mayoral races like Mount Vernon’s, a little money can go a long way.And if that $600 donation keeps a certain kind of competitor out of Draft Pic’s hair, that little money will have gone a very long way for the Pirkles.Follow The Daily Weekly on Facebook and Twitter.