3 New Housing Authority Commissioners Selected

EL PASO, Texas – El Paso Mayor John Cook named three new commissioners to the city’s Housing Authority Board Friday. Mayor Cook said it was important to have more members who have experience in different fields for the Housing Authority can draw on.

Cook has selected Joe Fernandez, Senior Vice Preside of the Paso Del Norte Bank. He has 35 years of experience in banking. Sue Pratt was also selected. She is a former El Paso businesswoman and a current El Paso Community College professor.

The third new commissioner is Lynn Coil a local attorney with Dominguez and Coyle.

In the past, the Housing Authority has had a number of issues in the past, including allegations of corruption, misspending and over spending by board members. The US Housing Department did an investigation and found several areas of concern in December and in January, board President Kenna Ramirez resigned.

Two months ago Jerry Chicon was hired as executive director and tasked with cleaning up the department. He told ABC-7 he is in the process of hiring two dozen new high level employees.

Next Wednesday, the board will meet for the first time, and elect a board president.