It is unfortunate that EPISD has become an issue in the upcoming congressional election.
Like most of our readers, we don’t know the details relating to alleged wrongdoing at the board and employee levels.
If bad acts have been committed why is it that these people have waited until now to speak up?
Should we now expect to start learning about problems over at the county?
We deserve better
Brutus
3 Comments | 
City government, County Government, El Paso Independent School District, Federal Government | 
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Posted by Brutus
The timing of our recently departed city chief financial officer’s retirement deserves some scrutiny.
Dr. Sutter was the one that had to clean up the incredible mess that our former city manager and her chief financial officer left us with. During his tenure he seemed to be temperate and honest to a high degree. When he spoke in public he did not advocate for an issue but instead took his direction from those above him. Some of his presentations to city council required him to expose lies that the former administration had told, but he did it without getting personal.
The Times published news of his upcoming retirement on July 27, 2017. His last day was to be August 11, 2017.
He left right at the end of the city’s annual budget process. Most professionals would not do that. He also left without a replacement being announced. That left city council without access the the in-depth knowledge and detail that would have been useful in finalizing the budget.
Were there family or personal problems that caused him to leave his post? We hope not.
Could it be that he did not want to tie his name to what was going on?
Did he get pushed out?
Maybe DavidK can use his contacts at the city to help us find out.
We deserve better
Brutus
6 Comments | City government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus
The Times reported the other day that our new mayor is leading an effort to return the city to a five day work week instead of the four day week that they went to under the former city manager.
This is good news.
If they do it we will at least have an opportunity to approach our elected officials after the city council agenda is posted on Thursday afternoon.
In some cases (like this week) the agenda is posted on Thursday afternoon, the city is closed on Friday, and there is a holiday on Monday thus denying citizens the ability to reach out to council members.
This is better
Brutus
1 Comment | City government, El Paso Times | Permalink
Posted by Brutus
6 Comments | El Paso Independent School District | Permalink
Posted by Brutus
With the resignation of our county judge it is possible that we might see a change in commissioners court’s spending habits.
Possible is the key word here. It is important that we try to influence who the commissioners choose to replace her.
With the “holdover” provision of the Texas constitution in place it is possible that commissioners court will do nothing to replace the county judge. To us, that would be unfortunate.
Of the four regular members of the court, two have been advocates for fiscal prudence while the other two seem to be more inclined to spend more money.
It looks to us like the swing vote here will be the commissioner that used to be the city’s chief of police. There has been talk of him throwing his hat in the ring and running in the next election for county judge.
If we can influence Mr. Leon to vote for a county judge replacement that wants to reign in spending, we could have a win here.
The word on the street is that there are portions of the county government where savings could be realized by reducing personnel but that the current judge won’t allow it. She evidently does not want to hurt her congressional chances.
An appointed county judge–especially one that will not stand for election–could make the necessary reductions without worrying about the political costs.
We deserve better
Brutus
3 Comments | City government, County Government, State Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus
elpasospeak 
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