By Juan Montoya
With the abrupt departure of former Cameron County Administrator David Garcia and the appointment of his former boss and current chief executive officer of the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority Pete Sepulveda as interim director, the search is on now for a permanent replacement.
The selection of Sepulveda - coming as it did after he accepted a pre-trail diversion program plea to defer a prosecution on of abuse of official capacity, theft by a public servant and misapplication of fiduciary property - aroused outrage in some quarters, but gives the county commissioners time to make a permanent solution with someone who knows the job intimately for the while.
Sepulveda said he will not apply for the position.
Now, as the court commissioners start receiving applications for Garcia's replacement, the names of a few potential candidates are been thrown around.
It's not a position to sneeze at.
The administrator serves as the Chief operating and staff officer for the Commissioners’ Court. He directs and supervises the day-to-day operations of all non-elected county departments and agencies which are under the direct control of the Commissioners’ Court, pursuant to County ordinances and regulations.
The Office also provides administrative support to Commissioners’ Court and implements its directives, meeting agendas, meetings, resolutions and constituent services. The Administrator also provides management, coordination, and communication to all elected officials on legislative, intergovernmental and operational needs of the county.
The officer oversees all non-elected County Departments including Facilities Maintenance, Information Technology, Health and Human Services, International Bridge System, Human Resources, Parks, Planning and Development, and Transportation.
One of the candidates which first comes to mind is Remi Garza, the current Cameron County Elections Administrator. Garza, however, carries some old baggage that might discourage some county commissioners from tapping him for the post. The baggage goes back to his relationship with his staff and some complaints about untoward behavior toward subordinates. In fact, some say, he is fortunate he still has his position at elections.
The other is Xavier Villarreal, Garcia's administrative assistant who basically handles the annual budgets. But many feel that Villarreal is happy just where he is at and will probably not vie for the position.
Yet another is current former Port Isabel Interim city manager (and later appointed city manager) Jared Hockema. After that He was city administrator for Santa Rosa, and before that Emergency Management Asst. for Cameron County.
Garza and Hockema both share having been in the Gilbert Hinojosa administration, although they parted and went their separate ways in public service. Hinojosa is currently the Texas State Democratic chair while Hockema is the Cameron County Democratic Party chairman.
But there is a crucial difference here. Of all the recent county Democratic chairs, only Hockema was able to deliver the prize of electing the county judge (Eddie Trevino) to the Democratic Party in a stretch of time spanning almost two decades that started with Tony Garza and ended with Carlos Cascos.
Neither Gilbert (with John Wood) Amber Medina Wilkins (Joe Rivera) or any other county chair can make that claim. In each case, their candidate was beaten by a Republican and to the shame of the party, the county in deepest South Texas went blue.
Depending on how many qualified candidates may come out of the woodwork, Hockema seems to have the strongest hand at the table.
Will the commissioners be able to weigh the obvious administrated skills that Hokema brings to the table and recognize his contributions to their party and make him county administrator?
Monday, July 15, 2019
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16 comments:
Is that we have NO Wonder back to the same s***
No hay unas viejas that can do this job??? They all wanna be judges.
Juan im sure there are other persons out there more capable either male or female, but in the end it dont matter, its what the party in charge wants. Gus ruiz, eddie trevino and one more county commissioner is all it takes, like former Cameron County Commissioner Adolf Thomae (RIP) would say can you count to Three (tres).
Hire the King Rat of Brownsville, the recycled people over and over again. Cameron county is a joke of stupidity.
Por eso estamos como estamos. Remi, Hockema,.....puro same 'ol same 'ol. No pasa nada!
Surely to be a political appointment and the experience and ability will be a secondary issue. Trevino will favor the man who got him elected, not the best person for the job. Democratic corruption will continue!
SepĂșlveda is ineligible to act as County Administrator since he has abused in his official capacity of theft by a public servant and misapplication of fiduciary property. The dude is a Rata and a felon. Search for someone with more intelligence and professionalism! Commissioners and Judge DO YOUR JOB. Don’t just sit there and watch gross mismanagement. We trusted in you to make a difference!
Calling Charlie Cabler!
Anybody with any association to the unidicted co-conspirator of almost all corruption in Cameron county Gilberto Hinojosa, should be looked at with great concern. The absolute most corrupt, amoral, greedy, POS in Cameron County.
Somebody said it, it's the same old two groups that are running this joint.
Tax all the religious entities do they pay for utility services or are they free to all of them? Do they pay property taxas? Are their buildings appraised like the rest of us? Where is their country of origin? Racist republicans wanna know!!! The pig president wants to know, his tweeter warriors want to know!
for 2.33pm the churches are exempt from taxes ask the cameron appraisal district,but they have to pay for the light bills, water bills etc.
CAR 54 where are you, looks like the county should take a very serious look at this replacement and not just put in a local joker because he is a camote del el judge trevino or el ex judge cara de picha gilly hinojosa. By the way judge trevino how was the reception over at santa rosa last night? heard it got ugly and out of hand with those folks from the tio cano area right? (between la feria and santa rosa) It was very hot from what i heard.
For all you haters, just hire Chris Valadez, Cascos Puppet HAHAHAHA!!
Yes bring them all back divide the county into two, one side the crooks and the other side los pendejos whick is the same as the crooks...
So, the dirty politics and nepotism remains alive and well in Cameron County? Sepulveda, really? Weren't there lil bitches crying about how much money this crooked POS was making from the county? Now, he's in charge again making money and probably will be pulling dirty deals to fill certain pockets?
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