Ethics complaint against mayor to go before DA

NEWS Staff Report

Mayor Joe H. Hernandez

Mayor Joe H. Hernandez

The Cameron County District Attorney’s Office will be reviewing the ethics complaint filed against Mayor Joe H. Hernandez after the San Benito City Commission unanimously approved to defer the matter to the DA.

During an executive session item on Tuesday, commissioners discussed the allegations levied against the mayor by local community advocate Alfonso Benavides. Specifically, Hernandez is accused of violating a conflict of interest affidavit the mayor signed last year in reference to a snow cone stand owned by Noe Leal. The mobile vendor, operating as Noe’s Tropical Sno-Wiz, was parked at the mayor’s Robertson Street barbershop in exchange for paying Hernandez’s utilities.

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2012/02/07/ethics-complaint-against-mayor-to-go-before-da/

1 comment

    • Mark Cassidy on February 8, 2012 at 10:41 am
    • Reply

    This story is incorrect. The city is NOT referring this to the DA’s office. The Commission said that the “Complainants” had to take it to the DA. In other words, the Commission wiped its hands of the ethics violations alleged against the Mayor and, once again, has chosen to look away and expect someone else to do their job. That’s understandable and in keeping with their recent behavior. After all, the Commission and City Manager ignored the Mayor’s violations of ordinances for half a year until a citizen would not allow them to overlook it any longer. Now, they’re just going to shft their burden onto someone else. Figures!

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