County Judge Files Ethics Complaint Against City Rep.

EL PASO — “Should Emma Acosta remain in City Council?” That’s the question County Judge Anthony Cobos asked the media at a news conference Thursday afternoon.

According to Cobos, Acosta received an illegal campaign contribution of $500 that is punishable by a fine of $4,000, a year in prison, or both, according to ethical codes in Texas and El Paso. He has filed an ethical complaint with the Texas Ethics Commission and the El Paso Ethics Commission.

“It is clear in her campaign finance report … I would also say ignorance of the law is not an excuse,” said Cobos, “The use of this cash in her political campaign remains unknown.”

Acosta told ABC-7 Cobos may have jumped the gun with the accusations. She said the $500 contribution was inside an envelope that was given to her at a recent campaign event. The envelope only had the name “G. Holguin” on it and she does not know if several people may have contributed.

According to Acosta, she reported the contribution in her May 30th campaign finance report to avoid any problems. She has not used the money in her campaign and has asked the Texas Ethics Commission to determine whether or not she can use it. If the commission decides against her using the money, then she will donate it to a non-profit organization that benefits children’s education.

The timing of Cobos’ accusations, days before the end of a heatedrace between Acosta and former City Representative Alexandro Lozano, has many wondering if they are politically-motivated. “The county judge really wants Lozano to win. This is getting petty. We have — he has — bigger issues to worry about and that need our attention,” said Acosta.

At Thursday’s news conference, Cobos said he’s sorry the accusations had to be made days before voters head to the polls. He is merely trying to defend himself after Acosta filed an ethics complaint against him last week. Cobos said she requested an “open records” request from his office and he abided.

According to our news partners Newspaper Tree, Acosta filed acomplaint against Cobos, the county’s Human Resources Department and the county itself.Acosta allegesCobos violated the code of ethics by purposefully interfering in her re-election campaign in providing her opponent in Saturday’s election, Jose Alexandro Lozano, with copies of job applications she initiated in 2007.

“Her campaign managers are advising Mrs. Acosta to cry, to make herself the victim. This is very unprofessional,” said Cobos, “Mrs. Acosta is a mature and experienced woman and she should not make herself out to be the victim, but instead accept responsibility for her actions and mistakes.”

Cobos added Acosta has made ethics an important part of her campaign and should not question his motives. “Her attempt to expose ethical standards have exposed her own ethical and legal shortcomings,” said Cobos. “What I would say is: ‘Those living in glass houses should not throw stones.'”

The county judge also looked into campaign contributions from other candidates while reviewing Acosta’s campaign finance report.