Hidalgo County Judge J.D. Salinas, who presides over the commissioners court and is also a member of the election commission, voiced concern in April with the report’s findings, including:
> Multiple paperwork discrepancies between the elections department’s submitted and actual car rental agreements.
> “Many instances” of cars being used for non-official business and by people not employed by the county.
> Bills for contract work that were directly handled by the department in violation of county procedures.
> Cases where travel advances were not followed up by final expense claims.
Although the audit did not identify any one employee as being responsible for the anomalies, the election commission felt Navarro should have had better oversight of her office.
“I’ve always said this is not a criminal decision,” Salinas said Tuesday, referring to the commissioners court decision in April to take no action on the election commission’s recommendation to fire Navarro.
“From (the elections commission’s) perspective we had enough to administratively dismiss her.”
AFTER THE INDICTMENTS
Navarro could continue in her position as elections administrator for the foreseeable future, unless county commissioners revisit the election commission’s recommendation to terminate her.
“Maybe they will reconsider,” Salinas said Tuesday. “I think it’s a problem. ... Now it’s up to (the county commissioners).”
The indicted county employees could be subject to suspension and termination based on their cases’ outcomes.
The criminal allegations against department employees are not expected to affect the results of any past elections, because the cases are built on internal bookkeeping matters and not ballot counts or voter fraud.
Navarro has served as the county’s election administrator for the past eight years.
She took office in 2000, several months after her predecessor, Noe Garza, suddenly retired after allegations of voting irregularities.
MORE TO COME
More indictments are set to be handed down in connection with the Sheriff’s investigation, Hidalgo County District Attorney Rene Guerra said today.
____
Teresa Navarro
DOB: 12/23/1959
> Theft by a public servant ($500-$1,500); state jail felony
> Theft by a public servant ($1,500-$20,000); third-degree felony
> Theft by a public servant ($1,500-$20,000); third-degree felony
> Engaging in organized criminal activity; first-degree felony
> Tampering with government records; state jail felony
Patricia Zapata
DOB: 03/12/1973
> Engaging in organized criminal activity; first-degree felony
> Tampering with government records; state jail felony
> Tampering with government records; state jail felony
> Tampering with government records; state jail felony
> Tampering with government records; state jail felony
Amado Cavazos Jr.
DOB: 09/14/1980
> Engaging in organized criminal activity; first-degree felony
> Theft by a public servant ($500-$1,500); state jail felony
Rene Solis
DOB: 09/21/1965
> Theft by a public servant ($1,500-$20,000); third-degree felony
> Theft by a public servant ($500-$1,500); state jail felony
> Engaging in organized criminal activity; first-degree felony
> Tampering with government records; state jail felony
> Tampering with government records; state jail felony
> Tampering with government records; state jail felony
> Tampering with government records; state jail felony
Looks like these criminals were using county vehicles and facilities to sell and transport drugs.
The Third World is here-—these are common scams one would find in corrupt hellholes south of the border.