There has been a major outcry about the 16.2% salary increase that the El Paso County Commissioners Court voted themselves this past August 28, with only Commissioner Holguin dissenting.
But let us never forget former Commissioner Vince Perez, who stands in a category all his own.
He voted for five raises for himself during his eight years in office, enriching himself on the backs of the taxpayers and breaking the County record for the largest total pay increase while in office:
- 10/6/2014, agenda item 18. For FY 2015 voted for increase of 3.0%, from $60,855 to $62,680.
- 8/11/2016 (agenda unavailable). For FY 2017 voted for increase of 42.4.0%, from $62,680 to $89,250.
- 8/28/2017 item 31. For FY 2018 voted for increase of 1.0%, from $89,250 to $90,143.
- 8/27/2018 item 25. For FY 2019 voted for increase of 4.0%, from $90,143 to $93,748.
- 9/9/2019 item 29. For FY 2020 voted for increase of 21.6%, from $93,748 to $114,901.
Thus, he began his term in January 2013 with a salary of $60,855 and by the time the voters finally booted him from office, in the Primary Runoff Election of July 14, 2020, he earned $114,901, an increase of 89%!
If that were not terrible enough, he was embroiled in several embarrassing scandals in the course of his political career that are well documented.
Now Perez is back, running for Texas House District 77 against Norma Chavez and Alexsandra Annello.
The Oligarchs are backing him because if he wins he will do whatever they command, just as he did when he was a County Commissioner.
It is absolutely unacceptable for Vince Perez to be entrusted with another elected position.
We are hopeful that Norma Chavez, who has the most fiscally conservative campaign platform, will win the March 5 Primary.