Some Thomason Board Members Refuse To Sign Ethics Pledge
EL PASO, TX. – A man who sits on the board of El Paso’s County Hospital is refusing to sign a pledge in which he would promise to perform his official duties in an ethical manner.
Arturo Duran says the pledge that most of the hospital board members were asked tosign is juvenile and has a ‘hidden agenda’ to allow a mechanism for board members to be forced to resign.
“We have a $340 million dollar budget to be worried about.A[document] like this is a ‘kindergarten’ paper for me.”
R.E. Thomason Hospital board member Arturo Duran was visibly upset with the board’s new ethics pledge. In short, it says members will:
Act for the good of the community Be informed about issues before meetings begin And be committed to acting honestly.
“It adds no value whatsoever to the hospital district. [It] adds no value to the interaction and the harmony of this board. It creates conflict. It’s controversial,” Duran adds.
Heappears to have a problem with a more specific item on the pledge. It says if a board member misses three consecutive meetings without reasonable cause, that member should resign.
“I just find it disingenuous to think that an individual who is seldom here is the one that is speaking against this the most,” said Ron Acton, the Chairman of Thomason’s Board of Directors.
Supporters of the pledge say it’s only purpose is to build trust in the community.County Commissioner Veronica Escobar says of Duran’srefusal,”He made a comment. The comment was, and this is a direct quote. He said ‘I don’t care what the community thinks’.”
Duran has not had a good working relationship with many other county leaders and board members since he was linked to the ongoing public corruption case.
“Which is why back in May, when theFBI raided his home, I asked for his resignation,” said Escobar.”I have 18 years in serving this public entity. So why do I need that? I’m not going to go tobasic training for that!”
Board member Jesus Castro-Sandoval alsodid not sign the pledge.ABC-7 was not able to get a hold of him Wednesday.
