As Cameron County's Administrator, David Garcia is supposed to be overseeing the entire operations from Public Works, airports, the international bridges and the departments of Transportation and Engineering.
Of course, that is not humanely possible for anyone to do that. But for $187,230 a year, he is willing to give it the old college try and wing it. Think about it. That's about as much as four county commissioners make altogether.
As a multi-tasked individual, the county commissioners have seen fit to pay him from these funds to administer the county's business.
Under the Department of Planning and Inspection, he is paid $62,757 as director of the Dept. of Transportation.He is also paid an additional $73,581 for being the director of the Veterans Bridge.
He is also paid an additional $29,411 for being the director of the Free Trade Bridge in Los Indios.
He is also paid an additional $21,451 for being the director of the Gateway Bridge.
He is, as the saying goes, a man for all seasons.
Well, Garcia is taking on yet another task. He will be testifying before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security and Border Maritime Security Wednesday through Friday.
The hearing, entitled "A New Approach to Increase Trade and Security: An Examination of CBP's Public-Private Partnerships."
Now, what our intrepid multi-task Messr. Garcia knows about the subject is open to debate, but the county will shell out the travel and lodging expense of $1,329 to get him there.
Garcia is expected to submit a written statement of proposed testimony electronically no less than 48 hours prior to the hearing. Oral testimony should not exceed five minutes and should summarize the written remarks handed to the committee in advance.
Garcia first came to Cameron County at the behest of Lencho Rendon, assistant to then-U.S. Rep. Solomon Ortiz. As a political appointee, he was expected to maintain lines of communication with the congressman and his protege Rendon.
But the Solomon Ortiz days have been over for years, and as the assistant to the former county administrator and now county judge Pete Sepulveda, Garcia has spread his influence in all facets of county government, including the Human Resources Dept.
We don't know if the county commissioners previewed his written and oral testimony before the committee. It would be interesting to see what public-private partnerships between the county, the CBP and private sector are at work in Cameron County. We already know that there has been a spike in security breaches at the Port of Brownsville, but that information was deemed confidential by the U.S. Coast Guard commander in Corpus Christi.
If anything, it will make for a more attractive resume for Garcia.
3 comments:
Just another example of how the elected officials of Cameron County give one person four or five jobs. No wonder our unemployment rate is so high. It's not that we lack jobs, but that a few people like Garcia and Sepulveda have more jobs than they can handle....but they get the pay. FUBAR...
Let us start with the 4 County Commissioners and pay the County animal control person 1/2 of each commish salary. He is use to cleaning up the shit and is worth what they make !
Then go to the Auditor's office and take 90 % of the salary and give to the JP offices in the County who meet each and every voter every day all day and
cleans up the shit of every other county voter ! God bless you JP judges for
being the truth seeker, the man in the middle of disputes, the person who will
take the time to hear both sides, the special person who keeps the peace in the county and is so under paid, over worked, but never ignored at voting time by county voters. You are repaid for your compassion with respect and the countless thanks, smiles and gods gift of patience.
pinche Manitas....... el pinche appointed county judge.
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