Dora Oaxaca is the former Chair of the El Paso County Democratic Party and the wife of District 7 City Rep. Henry Rivera, one of the most fanatical supporters of demolishing Duranguito for an arena.
As reported below, Oaxaca went on a rant during public comment on January 3 and it was captured on video.
She went on to file an absurd ethics complaint against Rep. Brian Kennedy of District 1 because he consulted for the El Paso Sports Commission while campaigning to abandon Duranguito as the site for the Multipurpose Performing Arts and Entertainment center, even though Kennedy abstained from the January 3 vote!
Moreover, according to Oaxaca “Kennedy participated in the city council’s executive session where he benefited from information not available to the public that directly benefits his financial interests and puts the taxpayers in legal jeopardy.”
Oaxaca conveniently ignores that (1) Kennedy had not been paid by the Sports Commission since November, no longer worked for them, and had no financial interest, and (2) there is no regulation prohibiting Kennedy from attending executive sessions.
Oaxaca told Adam Powell of the El Paso Times that because her complaint was forwarded to the Ethics Review Commission she feels her concerns are validated. But Powell clarifies: “The complaint being advanced to the commission means the accusation falls within its purview, not that any evidence of wrongdoing has been found.”
Well, Oaxaca got her moment in the limelight, and perhaps she needs the attention in support of a future run for local office. If she campaigns for her husband’s seat when he terms out in two years, I predict that he, Emma Acosta and about 12 other people will vote for her.
COMPLAINTS AGAINST FIERRO AND KENNEDY “THROWN OUT”
Unlike El Paso Matters, which demonized Reps. Fierro and Kennedy in two reports for failing to pay traffic tickets before they were sworn in January 3 and then minimalized the fact that they were exonerated, Adam Powell devoted 326 words to explaining very clearly that the ethics complaints filed by Claudia Rodriguez and Chris Yost were “thrown out” because no “provision of the Code of Ethics Standards of Conduct was violated.”
CITY’S FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT AND AUDIT COMMITTEE TO RECEIVE FOUR NEW MEMBERS
The agenda for the January 31 City Council meeting indicates that Reps. Alexsandra Annello, Brian Kennedy, Art Fierro, and Joe Molinar are being appointed to the Financial Oversight and Audit Committee (FOAC). Now that the Oligarchy Caucus is in the governing minority, key committees such as this are going to be dominated by individuals who are on the side of the taxpayers rather than elite private investors.
REP. SALCIDO RECEIVES ANOTHER $5,000 FROM WOODY HUNT
Rep. Salcido is the only member of the Oligarchy caucus who managed to keep her seat after this past election, and that is only because Joe Pickett, who would have beaten her without breaking a sweat, withdrew his candidacy at the last moment.
The current City Council Agenda shows that she just received another $5,000 from Woody Hunt. This is in addition to the $12,000 she already received from the Hunts, Margos and/or Foster that she received in 2022.
The good news is that Salcido, who never saw a tax hike, debt issuance or corporate handout she didn’t like, is in the governing minority and that her two colleagues in the Oligarchy Caucus, Reps. Hernandez and Rivera, will term out in less than two years.
CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE ON ESTABLISHING A NEW MINISTRY: THE CLIMATE DEPARTMENT
On January 31, our City Council will vote on whether to put forth a ballot measure that would create a Climate Director and a Climate Department, including support staff, that would expand our municipal government on the backs of the taxpayers. This comes on the heals of a citizen petition demanding this expansion.
Enjoy your afternoon.
Max
PHOTO CREDIT, El Paso Inc