SAN BENITO — Madlyn Fairbanks stepped out of her small mobile home.
She glanced at the border wall and a narrow, recently-paved road.
The 71-year-old, who has lived on Freddie Gomez Road for many years, knows what the road used to be like.
Fairbanks explained she could stand in the potholes ankles deep.
The water collected and the mosquitoes bred in the potholes.
Last March, that all changed.
More than 500 feet of the road was paved with mill to harden the dirt road, leaving a smooth surface for Fairbanks and her neighbors to drive on.
But, the work on that dead-end road off the Civil War Trail has former Cameron County Judge Pete Sepulveda in trouble. The DA’s office is stating the road is private.
He has been indicted on charges of approving the order to pave part of a road named after Los Indios conjunto legend Freddie Gomez last March.
But Fairbanks said she was so happy when she finally saw the road being fixed.
According to Fairbanks the clamoring of her neighbor Anita Weaver to Los Indios City Hall and the county finally lead to a road improvement.
The indictment lists Weaver as the person who benefited from the road improvement.
Fairbanks said the road drastically needed an upgrade for many years.
“Annie (Weaver), she fought for us and we would have if we could have,” Fairbanks said. “I’m 71 and my husband is 73 and he’s in ill health.”
A grand jury indicted Sepulveda on Dec. 21 for allegedly knowingly misusing government property, personnel, county employees and paving materials to pave Freddie Gomez Road March 7 to 11.
Sepulveda was charged with abuse of official capacity for the alleged misuse of $2,500 or more but less than $30,000.
He turned himself in to the Cameron County Sherriff’s Office on Tuesday and was later released on $5,000 bond.
“The road was in bad shape,” said Dan Sanchez, Former Cameron County Pct. 4. “Freddie Gomez Road never got any treatment while I was in office.”
Fairbanks said her husband for years would fill in the potholes.
“My car would sink below the tire, the garbage truck couldn’t get in or out and would sink in the mud hole and make it worse,” Fairbanks said.
Fairbanks believes the property taxes paid over the years is more than enough to have paid for the road improvement several times.
“I am definitely on this man’s side (Sepulveda) because he cared enough to take care of his elderly,” Fairbanks said. “I’m on the judge’s side and I say whoever is doing this doesn’t like elderly people.”
Sepulveda and his attorney were not readily available for comment.
Weaver was not available for comment as her home was gated and locked with a sign that said private property.
“Anita went to everybody for help, and they said no, no, no, no,” Fairbanks said.
