Post by Tim Collins on Oct 23, 2009 4:06:08 GMT -7
www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_13623232
3 appointed to new ethics commission
By Michael D. Hernandez / El Paso Times
Posted: 10/23/2009 12:00:00 AM MDT
EL PASO -- A Realtor, a defense attorney and the brother of El Paso's congressman are the first three appointments to the county government's new ethics commission.
More selections could be made today for the 10-member commission, which will have the power to investigate and punish violators of the ethics code.
Commissioner Dan Haggerty appointed Realtor James Clair.
Commissioner Willie Gandara named Jesus "Chuy" Reyes, entering his selection into the court's record.
Making the third appointment was Commissioner Veronica Escobar. She chose defense attorney Michael Gibson.
County Judge Anthony Cobos and Commissioner Anna Perez had not made their appointments as of Thursday.
Clair is a holdover from the county's current ethics board, which had no enforcement teeth and is being terminated in favor of the new commission on Nov. 2.
Reyes is general manager of the El Paso County Water Improvement District No. 1. He also is the brother of U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas.
Escobar said she selected Gibson because his many years as a lawyer could prove handy for the panel. She said Gibson was fair and could help the ethics commission recognize whether a violation amounted to a crime that could be referred to the district attorney's office.
State legislation that helped create the panel allows each county commissioner to appoint one member.
Those five appointees to the ethics commission are not voted on by the court as a whole.
The remaining members of the panel will be selected from nominees submitted to the Commissioners Court by five groups in the community.
Last week the court interviewed six of the 12 nominees from the groups and will resume discussions during a special meeting today.
Haggerty said the slow pace of the selections had frustrated him.
"This is not a beauty contest or anything," he said. "It's just a panel, so I don't know why we are making a big production of this."
Perez said she wanted the court to listen to nominees today and wait until Monday to make selections.
She said she would appoint someone to the ethics commission then.
Cobos said his appointment will probably come before the Commissioners Court on Nov. 2.
The court last week interviewed defense attorney Stuart Leeds, former assistant district attorney Marcos Lizarraga, business owner and current ethics board member David Nemir, Realtor Jack McGrath, retired educator David Chavez and retired union negotiator Alton "Rusty" Strain.
Other nominees for the panel included lawyer Susanna Visconti, retired college employee Wayne Diggs, community volunteer Linda Elias, and Sandra Elizondo, a program coordinator for Communities in Schools.
Also nominated were business owner Susan Barlow, human resources professional Daniel Margrave, and Terry Pasqualone, former executive director of the county's Domestic Relations Office.
Michael D. Hernandez may be reached at mhernandez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6151.
3 appointed to new ethics commission
By Michael D. Hernandez / El Paso Times
Posted: 10/23/2009 12:00:00 AM MDT
EL PASO -- A Realtor, a defense attorney and the brother of El Paso's congressman are the first three appointments to the county government's new ethics commission.
More selections could be made today for the 10-member commission, which will have the power to investigate and punish violators of the ethics code.
Commissioner Dan Haggerty appointed Realtor James Clair.
Commissioner Willie Gandara named Jesus "Chuy" Reyes, entering his selection into the court's record.
Making the third appointment was Commissioner Veronica Escobar. She chose defense attorney Michael Gibson.
County Judge Anthony Cobos and Commissioner Anna Perez had not made their appointments as of Thursday.
Clair is a holdover from the county's current ethics board, which had no enforcement teeth and is being terminated in favor of the new commission on Nov. 2.
Reyes is general manager of the El Paso County Water Improvement District No. 1. He also is the brother of U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas.
Escobar said she selected Gibson because his many years as a lawyer could prove handy for the panel. She said Gibson was fair and could help the ethics commission recognize whether a violation amounted to a crime that could be referred to the district attorney's office.
State legislation that helped create the panel allows each county commissioner to appoint one member.
Those five appointees to the ethics commission are not voted on by the court as a whole.
The remaining members of the panel will be selected from nominees submitted to the Commissioners Court by five groups in the community.
Last week the court interviewed six of the 12 nominees from the groups and will resume discussions during a special meeting today.
Haggerty said the slow pace of the selections had frustrated him.
"This is not a beauty contest or anything," he said. "It's just a panel, so I don't know why we are making a big production of this."
Perez said she wanted the court to listen to nominees today and wait until Monday to make selections.
She said she would appoint someone to the ethics commission then.
Cobos said his appointment will probably come before the Commissioners Court on Nov. 2.
The court last week interviewed defense attorney Stuart Leeds, former assistant district attorney Marcos Lizarraga, business owner and current ethics board member David Nemir, Realtor Jack McGrath, retired educator David Chavez and retired union negotiator Alton "Rusty" Strain.
Other nominees for the panel included lawyer Susanna Visconti, retired college employee Wayne Diggs, community volunteer Linda Elias, and Sandra Elizondo, a program coordinator for Communities in Schools.
Also nominated were business owner Susan Barlow, human resources professional Daniel Margrave, and Terry Pasqualone, former executive director of the county's Domestic Relations Office.
Michael D. Hernandez may be reached at mhernandez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6151.