City Ethics Commission discusses city Rep. Romero

Wednesday the City Ethics Commission held a meeting to discuss an ethics complaint filed against El Paso City Rep. Larry Romero.

The first order of business for the City Ethics Commission wasn’t Romero.

They spoke about Noe Hinojosa of the Estrada Hinojosa financial firm. Part of the ethics complaint against Romero stemmed from his alleged involvement in searching for a new financial adviser and possibly setting up former business partner Hinojosa.

“He answered all our questions and I felt he was fourthcoming,” said Ross Fischer.

Fischer is an attorney hired by the city to consult in the ethics investigation.

Fischer questioned Hinojosa in Dallas.

“Mr. Hinojosa insisted that it go through a Request for Qualification process because he wanted to avoid any suggestion that it was happening in an improper way,” Fischer said.

Fischer reminded the commission Hinojosa was not under oath and concluded that Hinojosa was trying to go by the books.

The second order of business was Romero himself but Commissioner Adolfo Telles quickly made a motion to dismiss the complaints against Romero saying too much time and resources would be wasted when ultimately he’s already out of office.

But others like Commissioner Teresa Ashley didn’t agree

“We may come up with a solution to do nothing but I think in the spirit of transparency and to address the concerns and to alleviate any possibility that we were co-conspirators and hiding an issue. I would like to have those issues addressed,” said Ashley.

Telles later voted against his own motion.

Since Romero resigned and is expected to be replaced in May the question loomed… will he have to face any consequences after that?

“I don’t think there’s anything in the orders that gives you jurisdiction or not after that point,” Fischer said.

The commission voted to continue the investigation into Romero.

They also set a hearing for the ethics violation April 13 at the Council chamber.

The is hoping Romero well be well enough to answer questions before he is replaced.