JP SALAZAR HIRED HALF-SISTER DESPITE FRAUDULENT APP.

By Juan Montoya
When Beatriz Muñivez applied for work as a clerk at the Justice of the Peace 2-1 office of Linda Salazar, she filled out the job application required of all applicants who want to work for Cameron County.

At the very top of the page is a warning applicants that: "The information you supply will be fully verified, so you should avoid all misstatements since they would jeopardize your consideration for employment or serve as grounds for dismissal."

Among the questions for applicants to fill is one that asks: Are any of your relatives employees of  Cameron County?

Muñivez answered that question by making a check mark by the "no" answer. (Click on graphic to enlarge.)

Then toward the end of the application, right before the signature affirming that all the information provided by the applicant was correct, there is another warning given them that states: "I hereby affirm that all the answers on this application are true and correct and that misstatements may be cause for my dismissal."

Muñivez signed that they were.

But now we have learned that back in 1994 when she applied and was hired, she was related to a county employee or official. That official was none other than her half sister JP 2-1 Linda Salazar.

The Cameron County Personnel Policy under section 3.05 manual states unequivocally that "no person may be hired who is related within the second degree by affinity (marriage or within the third degree by consanguinity (blood) to any member of the Commissioners’ Court, to a County official who appoints him or her to the position, or to any employee who would directly supervise his or her job performance."

Yet, for months, actually  years, it has been an open secret that Muñivez has been working under her half-sister's direct supervision as a court assistant. Her annual pay, according to the county's salary, schedule is $31,873. (See graphic at right. Click to enlarge.)

Salazar's salary is set at $57,343 after her $5,400 car allowance and annual $960 phone allowance.

Salazar (née Muñivez ) first married her first husband named Cortez and later her second husband with a last name of Salazar. Her older son Ruben Cortez is the Democratic Party nominee for the Texas State Board of Education and will face City of Brownsville IT Specialist Tad Hasse in the November general election.

Her other son, Mark Cortez, has filed his treasurer's appointment to run for trustee of the Brownsville Independent School District.

The fact that Salazar directly supervises her half sister in her position inside her office has raised serious questions on whether that violates the county's nepotism policy. Several critics say that the issue may be brought before the commissioners court for their review and possible corrective action.

Since the relationship between Salazar and her sister fall well within the "third degree by consanguinity (blood)" even before both were employed by the county, it would seem that little question remains that the situation cannot continue in direct violation of county policy. Was it an oversight by the JP that her sister got a job in her office?

Sources at the courthouse say that Salazar, who is on vacation, is trying to get her half-sister to remain on the job until her family leave, vacation and sick days are gone before she has to leave the job.

But if the fraudulent application for employment with the county is grounds for immediate dismissal and loss of retirement, will Human Resources bow to her wishes and bend the law to please Salazar?