By all accounts, it was a cozy little post-lobbying scene at the posh Renaissance Hotel in downtown Austin.
The Cameron County delegation was there in full force to push for its legislative agenda. So after a day of heavy lifting and buttonholing wary legislators, they settled in for the night around the luxurious lobby to have a couple of cold ones.
Talk – as it is wont to do in situations like these – got around the decision by the Cameron County district court judges to award a $23,000 raise to Auditor Martha Galarza back at the crib. As we have heard, the county auditor's salary cannot exceed that of the sheriff, so if the judges wanted to kick Galarza's dough up to that level, Sheriff Omar Lucio's would also have to be hiked to be slightly higher than that.Among the group gathered around the table, as we hear, were a few county elected officials like Pct. 1 commissioner Sofia Beanvides and her daughter, Pct. 2, Pl. 2, Justice of the Peace Mary Esther Garcia, county treasurer David Betancourt, Pct. 3 commissioner David Garza and a few others.
Betancourt apparently had a negative opinion of the judges' actions regarding Galarza's salary proposal and started talking down the auditor and criticizing her performance. He also complained that he had been asking for a raise for years without the court granting him his wish.
That irked Garza to no end and he let off some of the steam he had repressed over time. They way we hear it, Garza told Betancourt that he was in no position to talk since the county didn't even need a county treasurer and that in fact, he didn't trust him with the county's money.
This prompted a response from yellow-dog Democrat Betancourt who accused Garza of supporting incumbent county judge Carlos Cascos and saying he wasn't a good Democrat.
That didn't help matters much because Garza said that Betancourt's assistant, Becky Costilla – a Democratic precinct chair – had voted to nominate Robert Lopez who had run as a Republican for Constable Pct. 3 over Rolando Cavazos, the incumbent who was appointed to serve out his late father Joe Cavazos' term.
Well, politics and brewskies never mix well and this was about par for the course.
Garza stormed off from the gathering leaving Betancourt stammering a response and the rest of the delegation awestruck at the confrontation.
Whether the county can afford to pay for the district judges' unfunded mandate or not is yet to be seen in their next budget hearing. But the bad blood that was simmering below the surface among the county's elected officials came to a boil in Austin. We'll see how it plays out in the coming budget hearings in Cameron County.
26 comments:
All of them are worthless! !
Let’s cut all that s..t out about wanting pay raises. We haven’t had any inflation at all. Galarza, Sheriff Lucio, and Carlos Cascos are probably the only ones that have full time jobs and other elected officials have their assistants that do all their work for them. The county should be looking into cutting down on salaries and personnel. Knowing the time the commissioners spend working for the county, I would not pay them more then 10,000 and cut down on all private vehicles with tinted windows for them. They could share an automobile if they need to do some traveling for the county. I would cut down or consolidate all road and bridge departments into one. This is only if it hasn’t been done yet. I know that this idea is nothing new but it would eliminate a lot of favors that go towards cultivating votes and waste. I would eliminate the County Treasurer’s job. By the way he reminds me of Wally in the Dilbert comic strip. I don’t know how he wound up with the responsibility of appointing one patronage job and possibly a secretary. I guess Wally needs someone like Becky Costilla to hold his cup of coffee for him. Wally has the attitude of “Me too Lupe” when it comes to pay raises.
David Garza is a pompous ass that thinks he is above everyone.
Ernie Hernandez was indicted for facilitating a civil service test to get a family member hired at the county. David Garza demanded from HR director to change the job description after the applicant he wanted did not meet the qualifications. The position for Park Ranger had a requirement of Bachlors degree. Many qualified law men applied, but Garza demanded to re post the hiring to accomodate the current park ranger Humberto Zamora. The current County judge Carlos Cascos was aware of Garza's actions but remained silent. Luis Saenz prosecuted Ernie Hernandezfor for what pales in comparison on what David Garza did. David Garza should have been indicted along with all who knew of what he did, and participated in the act. David Garza needs to be investigated. What say you, Mr. D.A.?
Kill Betancourt's job. Use less than half of the savings to pay auditor. Bank the rest. Problem solved.
Betancourt should be ashamed of himself after the performance last year at the county commissioner's meeting where he was several months in arrears in reconciling the county's financials. His only response was "we're working on it (reconciling bank accounts)." And he wants a raise?
Great to know that finally an elected official has the morale courage to tell David Betancourt how worthless he is. I applaud Commissioner Garza! David Betancourt is worthless....his position not needed....and he continues to ride his father's reputation. Get rid of David Betancourt and eliminate the Office of Treasurer in Cameron County....as many other counties have done already.
It is all about the Money. El Naco.
THEIR ALL DIRT BAGSSSSSS AND CORRUPTED TO THE BONE.......
Betancourt ES mi gallo!
Again, what is Sadam doing in this picture? Is he a county employee ?
Juan so how many elected officials went to this austin trip n how much did the taxpayers ditch out for this little summer vacation inquiring minds want to know good work juan cca
Juan so how many elected officials went to this austin trip n how much did the taxpayers ditch out for this little summer vacation inquiring minds want to know good work juan cca
Embarrassing! Who reported the incident to You. Sofia Benavides? Gossip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These South Texas "ants" seem even smaller in Austin. Bedbugs on the road.
I say vote both of them out of office. What the hell are they doing up in Austin drunk and fighting like school girls on the taxpayer dime? That goes for the others at the table as well! ! Shame on them.
Commissioner Garza is a puffed up self serving Turd.
Lame.....
Garza looks like porky pig, y ESTA PELON el PUTO....EJELE!
Yes..I agree. .dissolve the treasure position. .
NOW THAT THIS "BUSINESS" THE CVS/WALGREENS; ARE TAKEING UP MORE;COMMISSIONER GARZA IS IN THE OFFICE MORE THIS DAYS;PLAYING FOOTIES WITH HIS ASST.AND GIVING "I LOVE YOU TOO,DAVID"MORE POWER,SO HE CAN CONTROL PISTOL PETE;WE NEED TO KEEP JUDGE CASCO,GOD HELP US ALL IF JOE GETS IN TO OFFICE;THEY NEED TO PAY THEM ON HOW MUCH THEY WORK AND GET DONE; NOT ON WHO THEY "KNOW"
David Betancourt wants a raise, is that a joke or something. He is already overpaid for the amount and poor quality of the work that he does (if any because he is never in the office) When David Gonzalez was the TREASURER there was only three people in the office including Mr. Gonzalez. Now they have four people and out of the four no body seems to know anything. I would say eliminate the Treasurers office and give the well deserved raise to the COUNTY AUDITOR. She is a hard working lady that earned already every penny of the requested raise.
Whatever Martha the county auditor is full of shit and doesn't know how to handle anything! Including her assistance that she has! They can't even keep the JPs office in order with there audits! She runs to the district judges when she wants something like that high paying raise! And a 15% raise for her staff only! Bullshit that is! How about the rest of the county employes! They are not any different than she!!!! Esta pendeja
You should run and take some classes! You're the one that comes off as a pendeja. ...learn to spell before you post.
It seems to me that everyone wants a raise... and the people that actually Deserve it are the employees... for putting up with all the years that Judge Cascos didn't give anyone a raise but his Buddies... Horrible.. we only need The Sheriff to ask For a raise too.. as if he and his idiot administration Deserve it..
David has always be for David and nada mas, hey David if you want a raise how come you didn't run for county judge or some other elected office, are you afraid of losing or what? maybe folks woulnt elect you again or you wont make it? Dude smoke a dobie and count your blessings, later gator
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