EDC Board Members Purged/Replaced by Mayor

There was a reason the Charter Amendments approved by the voters at the last election were placed on the back burner by City Hall.

One of the amendments approved by the voters was the amendment changing the nomination process for board or committee appointments. Each commission member will be given the opportunity to make appointments.

At the City Commission on Tuesday, June 19, 2012 Mayor Joe Hernandez decided to purge his perceived enemies on the EDC (Economic Development Corporation) board and replace them with his own appointments. He arrogantly pointed out that since the new voter approved amendments were not in force yet. The City Commission is still operating under the current City Charter where he has the sole authority to make all appointments.The City Commission went along with this farce.

I recall before the election where he stated that he allowed the other commissioners to submit appointments and there existed a checks and balance. 

EDC board members, whose terms had not expired, Bill Elliott, Celeste Sanchez, and Shirley Vega were summarily removed by the Mayor and the City Commission and replaced by Carlos Canas, Lorenzo Sanchez, Rene Garcia, and Jose Morales.

Bottom line, this is a hypocritical way to unite the city as he mentioned when he was reelected as Mayor.