By Juan Montoya
Even as questions have arisen regarding the participation of holdover Pct. 4 county commissioner for Dan Sanchez after he resigned by announcement that he was running for county judge, he joined the rest of the court in voting to make the existing five Transportation Reinvestment Zones one countywide entity.
And, despite initially asking that a percentage of any increment in taxes on all the properties in the county using 2015 as a benchmark be dedicated to the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority, Pct. 3 commissioner David Garza and Sanchez had to settle for the CCRMA to receive only the projected $1.6 billion over the next 50 years on the properties in the existing TRZs.
The $1.6 billion figure was provided commissioners by CCRMA Chief Financial Officer Adrian Rincones.Some county officials worried that if the TRZ incemental percentage was given the CCRMA on all county properties – including the proposed multi-billion LNG terminals – the county would lose millions yearly.
That $1.6 billion is the amount of money that the five already existing TRZ will generate in taxes with 25 percent on new taxes on the propertied there going to the CCRMA in the next 50 years.
Pct. 2 commissioner Alex Dominguez was the main opponent to giving the CCRMA board a blank check on a 25 percent share of taxes above the 2015 benchmark on all properties in the entire county as Garza and Sanchez initially advocated.
The discussion of the matter dragged on for hours, with Dominguez refusing to give in to the countywide scheme advocated by his two colleagues. In the end, he pointed out that Rincones had agreed in a prior meeting that the CCRMA could live with the $1.6 billion figure which would allow the board to pledge its funding for bonds for new road projects.
In the past, the county has been the one backing the bonds issued by the CCRMA. With Tuesday's decision, it will be the CCRMA which will be responsible for payment of the bonds they issue.
The executive session where the item was discussed did not include county judge Pete Sepulveda. Sepulveda – because of his position as CEO of the CCRMA – was not allowed to enter into the discussion or to vote on the issue. As CEO, any decision reached by the court on the TRZs would impact his budget (and salary) directly.
When the subject was first brought to the commissioners court three weeks ago, Sepulveda entered into a long discussion advocating that the county adopt the countywide TRZ based on the 25 percent take for the CCRMA on all properties in the county.
It only after it was pointed out that his participation constituted a clear conflict of interest that legal counsel advised him he could neither vote nor participate in discussions on the matter.
Additionally, the new TRZ agreement stipulates that the CCRMA will submit annual reports to the commissioners courts informing the court of the status of its projects and their activities.
"Before, the RMA wan't really required to give us a full report of what they were working on," Dominguez told the local daily. "So language was added into the agreement to force them to tell us what they finished and where they are at."
Still waiting in the wings is the decision on whether Sepulveda will choose to have Sanchez remain on the court since previous Texas Attorney General's opinions state that a replacement for his seat should be appointed by the county judge "as soon as possible."
Sanchez announced publicly on Nov. 10 that he was a candidate for county judge during a celbration he held to honor county veterans on the steps of the courthouse. A few days later, he made an "official" announcement.
Sepulveda has questioned his authority to replace claiming that since he himself is appointed, he would wait until the outcome of the Pct. 4 primary election and appoint the winner. There are two candidates in that race. One is former Harlingen city commissioner "Chino" Sanchez and the other is attorney Gus Ruiz. Ruiz in the attorney for the Veterans Court run by David Sanchez, the brother of the Pct. 4 commissioner.
4 comments:
If "Sepulveda has questioned his authority to replace claiming that since he himself is appointed", why not obtain a legal opinion from the Texas OAG and settle it now instead of later......
This is nothing more than an egregious abuse of his position for not following protocol.
All I know is I WON'T be voting for Dan Sanchez no matter what!!!!!!
His ego is certainly bigger than his girth.
Pete Sepulveda knows this was a Great conflict of interest, its not his first rodeo, Right Pistol Pete? Why act like a moron or idiot? Or are you one?
Well that one is now dead in the water. Thought I would beat Capt. Obvious on another blog to the legal punchline. The whole reason that scheme HAD to be county wide is because the same scheme done piecemeal already has a "dead before it started" from the Texas AG.
Pete. Pete Pete Pete Pete Pete...Peeete. Petey!
Are you really trying to convince us peons that you don't, or believe you don't, have the authority to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the County Judge (CJ)? Why the hell are you then masquerading as THE Cameron CJ?
Petey, by your rationale as an "appointed" official, NONE of your official actions can be truly legitimate since you were not elected? The county is going to have to go back and undo and redo everything your "appointed" ass did because you don't really have the authority of your appointed office? Going to have to undo the contracts you signed as CJ, etc., etc.
Wrong, Petey! You are the de facto CJ by your acceptance of the appointment to that seat and the oath of office you took and filed with the state. You have all the power and responsibility to carry out the duties of that office.
How about you fulfill the oath you took as CJ to uphold the laws of this great State of Texas, and properly appoint a replacement commissioner to fill the vacancy of Precinct 4, which has been vacant since November 10, when Sanchez resigned. Do your appointed job, Petey!
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