The City’s Chief Internal Auditor, Edmundo Calderon, revealed last month that in 2022 Rep. “Gassandra” Hernandez of District 3 purchased 1,944 gallons of gas at taxpayer expense at a cost of $6,691, which was 35% of all gas purchased by the entire City Council and Mayor in that year!
Now Mr. Calderon is presenting his audit of City cards for the first four months of 2023 to the Financial Oversight and Audit Committee (FOAC) after again concluding that Hernandez’s usage “appears excessive.”
He found that she spent $1,584 on her City gas card in that short period, accounting for 40% of all gas purchased by the Mayor and City Council, up from 35% in 2022.
Again, there are multiple instances of her gas card being used on consecutive days.
And again, video surveillance from gas stations shows Jeremy Jordan, Hernandez’s husband, filling up his own gas tank multiple times using her taxpayer-fundedcard.
We refer you to Erik Elken’s excellent report.
HERNANDEZ AGAIN REFUSES TO APOLOGIZE, IMPUGNS VETERAN OF THE MARINES AND EPPD
True to form, Hernandez is again refusing to apologize, even in the face of overwhelming evidence.
She is still attacking those who are conducting the audit, even though she clearly lied to KVIA about being the only one to use her gas card, and even though her card was used while she was seated in City Council and while she was out of town.
Not only did she accuse Calderon and FOAC of attacking “minority” members of City Council, but in her latest statement to the media she tries to deflect attention to Rep. Joe Molinar, who was accused of sexual harassment after twice asking a City employee to dance with him at luncheon, which allegedly made her feel comfortable.
Yes, that is the totality of the “evidence” corroborated by witnesses.
Before he was on City Council, Mr. Molinar served four years in the United States Marine Corps and then 28 years as a police officer, including as a homicide investigator.
What are Hernandez’s accomplishments?
She is a career politician who hopes to be Mayor.
But at this point it is far more likely that Elvis will win the Powerball jackpot, or that a meteorite will strike the weather beacon atop the Blue Flame Building.
You see, Hernandez voted to raise our property tax six times, to issue more than a half-billion dollars in certificates of obligation, and to fund every insolvent capital project that came across her desk.
Her only “achievements” are those she funded with our money, and now she is impugning a man whose accomplishments are 1,000 times more impressive than hers—a man who put his life on the line for his community and his country, for decades.
And now she has potentially committed a “state jail felony” under Section 39.02 of the Texas Penal Code.
HERNANDEZ MUST RESIGN OR BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE
Hernandez recently wrote a check for $6,700 to reimburse the City for her and her husband’s 2022 gas usage, essentially admitting her guilt, and now she should write another check for $1,584 to cover January through April 2023.
Most importantly, Hernandez needs to resign immediately.
If you agree, please write to her at district3@elpasotexas.gov and tell her yourself.
Copy the Mayor and City Council: mayor@elpasotexas.gov; district1@elpasotexas.gov; district2@elpasotexas.gov; district4@elpasotexas.gov; district5@elpasotexas.gov; district6@elpasotexas.gov; district7@elpasotexas.gov; district8@elpasotexas.gov