Free Republic

The Atascosa County courthouse is almost ablaze. Not from the summer heat, but from hot under the collar taxpayers’ calls and county employees. Everyone seems to want to know why County Treasurer Lisa Durgin is getting paid her almost $31,000 annual salary while allegedly absent from her office as an elected official. When she was elected to the office, her name was Lisa Royal. “It’s not fair,” said County Judge Diana Bautista, “to the taxpayers for her to be paid full salary for not being here.” “Each (elected official’s) job is different,” the judge explained, “but if I didn’t show...

Cuellar files for office Times staff reports Former state representative Henry Cuellar announced his filing for candidacy for the new 28th Congressional District, Monday. In a press release issued by his campaign headquarters, Cuellar announced his decision to run for the Democratic nomination in the March 9 primaries. He filed with state Democratic Party headquarters in Austin Sunday afternoon. The newly created congressional district is made up of Atascosa, Frio, Guadalupe, La Salle, McMullen, Wilson, Zapata and part of Bexar, Comal and Webb counties. "As a state representative for 14 years, I fought to bring improved funding for education, healthcare...