Ineligible? Mayor’s City taxes raise questions about candidacy

In question
Pictured is a screenshot of Mayor Ben Gomez at last Tuesday’s regular city meeting. (Courtesy photo)

By DAVID LOPEZ
editor@sbnewspaper.com

According to the Cameron County Tax Assessor-Collector website, San Benito City Mayor Ben Gomez is delinquent on his property taxes for the 2019 year.

The deadline to pay property taxes was January 31. Gomez owes $408.15 to the City of San Benito, with the base amount due at $374.45 plus a penalty/interest of $33.70 as of March 11, 2020.

The charges bring up the question of whether Gomez can legitimately serve as Mayor and continue as a mayoral candidate.

A City of San Benito charter on the eligibility requirements for City candidates states that each candidate shall have paid all taxes due to the City [Section 3.02 (b)].

The eligibility requirements further state that the Mayor and each Commissioner shall meet the conditions of Section 3.02 (b) while in office.

However, according to the Texas Election Code, “[The] City cannot disqualify a candidate for failure to pay property taxes,” as that is not a qualification established by the Texas Election Code 141.001.

Despite multiple calls and inquiries, City of San Benito attorney Mike Sossi has yet to respond.

During an interview with the Mayor, Gomez said he does not consider his debt to be “delinquent.”

“I know I owe this year, but I don’t consider them delinquent. I consider them outstanding,” Gomez said.
Gomez assured that he would pay his taxes due before April.

“Why should that interfere with somebody who is hardworking, poor, and disadvantaged? And most of our people are like that. So I’m representing everybody,” he said.

Gomez explained that he does not reside in the property in question, which is under his and his wife’s name.

Editor’s note: This article has been edited for length. To read the full story, click here or make sure to grab a copy of the March 13 –19, 2020 issue of the NEWS.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2020/03/13/ineligible-mayors-city-taxes-raise-questions-about-candidacy/

4 comments

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    • CONCERN on March 16, 2020 at 12:13 pm
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    • Rude=Truthful on March 13, 2020 at 7:40 pm
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    Wow. Our Local Government is all messed up. We have a Mayor that does not abide by the City Charter by not paying the taxes he owes to the city and seeking re-election my goodness. Then we have a City Commissioner that could be possibly Tampering with a Witness in Felony cases. Then our City manager not abiding by the set city ordinance on cemetery plot prices and the DA’s Office is looking into the matter. I believe we need a New Local Government. Oh by the way Mayor YOU DO NOT REPRESENT EVERYBODY by not paying your taxes. We citizens do make sacrifices and pay our taxes when they are due.

    • Observant on March 13, 2020 at 5:47 pm
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    Lol… Trying to work out of this… CITIZENS IF HE OWES TAXES…AND DOES NOT PAY….THEN WHY SHOULD WE PAY OURS.. .. WTF OF LEADERSHIP IS THAT.. ITS LIKE THE FORMER SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT.. WHATS HIS FACE… VARGAS…
    HE wanted to cont to be a role model leader….whatever…while having a record. .. both want to be leaders with hey I’m an important person attitude.. I can get away with anything.

    Vote Him out San Benito!

      • M&M on March 26, 2020 at 9:06 am
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      I SAW THAT ON THE CITY’S FACEBOOK PAGE OUR HONORABLE MAYOR ADDRESSING THE CITIZENS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE 2020 CENSUS. WHAT I NOTICED IS OUR MAYOR IS WEARING THE TEXAS FLAG LAPEL PIN ON THE WRONG SIDE. IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN THE TEXAS FLAG PIN SHOULD BE WORN ON THE LEFT SIDE AS SO SHOULD OUR AMERICAN FLAG PIN. CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG.

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