Maverick County Hospital District Board approves Attorney General Opinion on Dual Office Conflicts
By: Jose G. Landa
An Exclusive Eagle Pass Business Journal News Story/Copyright 2013
The Maverick County Hospital District Board of Directors unanimously approved a motion to request the Office of the Attorney General Gregg Abbott for an opinion on the possible conflict of interest of board members who hold dual office in two or more community boards at its April 24, 2013 regular Board meeting.
Jose Reyna, a Maverick County taxpayer and President of the Maverick County Republican Party, earlier this year requested the Maverick County Hospital District Board of Directors at one of its meetings to request an opinion from the Office of Attorney General Greg Abbott to determine if Hospital District Board member Rito Valdez, III, had a possible conflict of interest of serving on the Hospital District’s Board of Directors after having been appointed as the new Maverick County Treasurer on March 18, 2013 by Maverick County Judge David Saucedo. Hospital District Board member Rito Valdez, III was not present at that meeting. Reyna pointed out that since both the Hospital District and the County Treasurer are publicly elected positions and the County Treasurer position is a salary position, he is concerned that there is a possible conflict of interest issue. Representing his Maverick County constituents, Calderon requested the item be placed on the Hospital District’s agenda.
Meanwhile, Maverick County Hospital District Board member Rito Valdez, III, requested that a similar opinion be sought on Hospital District Board member Ricardo E. Calderon who was elected on November 6, 2012 and also serves by appointment on the Housing Authority of the City of Eagle Pass Board of Commissioners. Both positions are volunteer and non-salary.
Both Valdez and Calderon have welcomed the request of an Office of the Attorney General opinion to clarify the possible conflict of dual office holding issue to Maverick County taxpayers. Valdez and Calderon are confident that the opinion will reflect that neither has a possible dual office holding conflict of interest.
The Maverick County Hospital District will request Maverick County Attorney Ricardo Ramos to write the letter of request of the Office of Attorney General opinion concerning the possible conflict of interest by Valdez and Calderon regarding dual office holding. The opinion from the Office of the Attorney General may take several weeks to months after formally requested by Maverick County Attorney Ricardo Ramos.
