BLAME GAME: EDC Board President responds to city criticism in power plant fiasco

By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com

EDC Board President Pete Claudio

EDC Board President Pete Claudio

San Benito Economic Development Corporation Board President Pete Claudio responded Tuesday to Mayor Joe H. Hernandez’ recent criticism that the EDC did not communicate with the city about a power plant project that ended in a highly-publicized debacle.

“All projects of the EDC and expenditures are subject to approval by the City Commission,” Claudio said in a statement Tuesday after referring to the EDC as the “economic development arm for the City of San Benito” that’s made up of board members who are “dedicated, community minded and qualified individuals in our city.”

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2013/09/24/blame-game-edc-board-president-responds-to-city-criticism-in-power-plant-fiasco/

18 comments

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    • San Benito Resident on October 5, 2013 at 1:04 pm
    • Reply

    Ok. well I look forward to seeing are your names on the ballet. I mean after all since you all have so much to complain about then get up from your couch and grow some guts to run.

    • Frank D. on October 3, 2013 at 7:16 am
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    Get UNITY SAN Benito!

    • Juan on October 1, 2013 at 4:15 pm
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    “We The People”,you are exactly right,I stand corrected.
    But what do we do to fix this problem,we can discuss and debate it til Hell freezes over,like we’ve been doing,puro pello.Lawniowhich

    1. What will happen is this he people who run will be locals and only their families will vote because no one running is going to be qualified. Non-qualified candidates will just keep voters away from the polls. If they do not like who is running people just won’t vote.

    • Juan on October 1, 2013 at 12:19 am
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    Best to look elsewhere for people of good character,simply not available locally.

      • WeThePeople on October 1, 2013 at 12:37 pm
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      There are good people, they just won’t run for office! The divisive, hateful nature of local politics keeps most decent people away.
      If a good person does get elected, they are ridiculed, shouted down or succumb to the lie and hate machine of the crooks! From all appearances, the local electorate will believe just about anything! Crookery, chisme and compadrismo rule in San Benito!

        • Reform San Benito on October 1, 2013 at 6:40 pm
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        WeThePeople, what are you saying? You know, that exact argument could be made by those in power right now. Isn’t that exactly what you, me and others are doing to our current elected officials? What makes us so right and them so wrong? For the alleged, self-proclaimed “good people” to use that as an excuse is bullcrap and cowardly.

        People can say what they want about Mayor Joe Hernandez — I usually do — but he has/had the courage to put himself out there and open himself up to the ridicule and “divisive, hateful nature of local politics.” For that I admire him. Unfortunately for Mr. Hernandez and us citizens, it’s his performance — abuse of office and apparent dishonesty — is what I rail against and the only reason he should be ridiculed. It should not be about his perceived lack of education or that he gave someone’s grandfather a bad haircut. It should not be personal! It should be about the city’s lack of progression under his leadership and the likelihood the city will never reach its full potential with him in office.

        This city will host a crucial election in 2014 that has the potential to reshape this city for years to come. Either we will get more of the same candidates and more of the same lack of progress, or the “good people” will step up and earn the title of “good people.” I do hope these “good people” you’re referring to read this and step up. Come election time, if they don’t, these “good people” will be no longer good, just merely pathetic. Good people don’t sit on their hands when others are in distress. They take action and offer aid. That’s what makes them “good people!”

          • WeThePeople on October 2, 2013 at 10:28 am
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          Any elected official that believes they are above the law, while intimidating those that might oppose them, may not qualify as a ‘good person’. These behavior traits are not exclusive to elected officials, and are prevalent in our society today…commonly known as bullying.
          As far as the ‘apparent dishonesty’ that you refer to, we’ll just have to see what happens with the upcoming trial this month. It will be interesting to see how the DA treats the case since the Mayor already a ‘deferred adjudication’ on the books. Now there might be another good SB News story??
          I agree, the 2014 elections will be crucial. We’ll see what kind of City the ‘good people’ really want.

      • Reform San Benito on October 1, 2013 at 6:55 pm
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      Juan, there are plenty of people in this community with good character! We might need to look elsewhere for new ideas, but good character exists here now. What to do to make them come forward? I’m not certain. Hopefully, they are paying attention and will come to the aid of their very own community. Most people with good character are too humble to think they have what it takes to lead a city. We need to encourage these people to step forward. Once they do, we need to support them so loudly with a unified voice that the “divisive, hateful nature of local politics” can no longer be heard. It can be done!

        • San Benito Resident on October 5, 2013 at 1:05 pm
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        well reform you must not have good character if you are not running

          • Reform San Benito on October 5, 2013 at 6:24 pm
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          Who said I’m not?

    • Zeke V. on September 25, 2013 at 12:37 pm
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    Best interest for the CITY and SCHOOL DISTRICT!!! We need people with good character.

  1. Taxpayer’s it’s time to take our city back. If you have never voted it’s time to step up and get rid of the ones up for re- election. We need people that have th2e best intrest for our city in mind.Let’s all VOTE.

    • Reform San Benito on September 24, 2013 at 9:12 pm
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    You tell ’em, Pete Claudio. You’re a proven commodity in this community, Mr. Claudio. You and Victor Garza. You don’t deserve to be stabbed in the back, thrown under the bus, and made to look bad by the mayor and commission. You both deserve better for your years of loyalty and service. Your only fault, both of you, is that you aligned yourselves with the wrong people. True and loyal friends don’t do this to their friends and supporters. Hopefully, you’ll both see that now and join us in moving this city forward. Enough of this self-serving politics. Join us, gentlemen, this community still needs you both. You deserve to be treated better for your loyalty and service to this community.

      • Enough on September 25, 2013 at 11:50 pm
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      Whoever you are, RSB, ur to nice. I agree bout Claudio but garza is self serving himself. Lets not frget about the city veterans plaque that was removed.

        • Reform San Benito on September 26, 2013 at 11:16 am
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        Enough, I am not fond of Victor Garza because of what he did over the Veteran’s plaque. He and Charlie Wilson conspired with Hernandez so Hernandez could get his self-serving way. I will never forget what he did to MAYOR Jack Garcia, either, snubbing him at a veteran’s ceremony while Garcia was mayor. Truly, he is not one of my favorite people.

        Having said that, we all make mistakes, errors in judgment. Happens too often in relationships and marriage. Sometimes it’s not until we’re married awhile that we learn our spouse is a liar, cheater, disloyal; just a downright despicable person. I’m giving Garza and Claudio and all the others the benefit of the doubt. Now that they see firsthand that Hernandez can sink lower then he ever has before by turning on his most loyal and devoted supporters, it is my hope they awaken and distance themselves from him. I have to believe Garza and Claudio deserve better than this and now realize this.

      • San Benito Resident on October 5, 2013 at 1:01 pm
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      In reference to the diaper company and the electric plant that is supposed to come into San Benito. Someone else had to do the background check instead of the EDC director. It is my understanding that it is his job to do this not someone else’s to do the background check and review the financial records. Instead of pointing fingers the director needs to do his own job first and not expect someone else to do it for him. What new business has the EDC board brought to San Benito under this new director? Can someone answer me that.

    • WeThePeople on September 24, 2013 at 9:04 pm
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    Buy the paper! Read the rest of the story. Way to go, Mr. Claudio! You explanation was well done, and without a press release writer. Imagine that.
    Michael for Mayor, Pete Claudio for City Commissioner !!

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