EDINBURG — City council members here found fellow Councilman Homer Jasso Jr. guilty of violating the city charter after they conducted an inquiry into the matter Wednesday afternoon.
EDINBURG — City council members here found fellow Councilman Homer Jasso Jr. guilty of violating the city charter after they conducted an inquiry into the matter Wednesday afternoon.
The inquiry mimicked a court hearing, with Edinburg Mayor Richard Molina serving as the arbiter and the rest of the council as the jury.
Jasso, who testified during the hearing but was not cross-examined, did not vote on the matter. He is accused of wilfully violating the city charter by engaging in business with the city through a tire recycling business he partially owned.
His attorney, David Flores, and the city’s attorney, Ricardo Gonzalez, took turns cross-examining three witnesses:Richard Hinojosa, city manager; Ramiro L. Gomez, director of solid waste management; and Ascencion Alonzo, director of finance.
Each spoke about their knowledge of the events in question, including when they became aware Jasso owned Santa Anita Recycling LLC, and answered whether they felt Jasso was trying to conceal his interest in the company. All parties indicated they did not believe Jasso had acted inappropriately.
Flores said he was not surprised by the council’s decision, calling it political.
The ruling will now we reviewed by a state district judge as outlined in a temporary restraining order that was amended for the second time Tuesday. The document essentially stops the council from removing Jasso from office until a judicial review is carried out.
