Ethics Commission Rejects Ann Morgan Lilly Complaint

El Paso District 1 Rep. Ann Morgan Lilly said she feels vindicated after the Texas Ethics Commission rejected an ethics complaint brought against her by challenger Lyda Ness Garcia.

Ness Garcia has accused Lilly of using her city email address for campaign purposes.

“I’m one happy candidate,” Lilly told ABC-7 on Friday. “I said several months ago that the allegations were unfounded because I’m an honest person.”

But Ness Garcia, an attorney, said the ethics commission letter, dated May 18, doesn’t exactly clear Lilly of the accusations.

“It is basically saying that all of the complaints that are older than two years, they can’t investigate because of the statute of limitations,” Ness Garcia said. “Secondly, it seems like (the complaint against Lilly) doesn’t meet the jurisdictional requirements.”

Ness Garcia admitted she, herself, was fined $1,000 by the same ethics commission in 2008 for mishandling a $2,500 campaign contribution while running for a judge’s seat.

She told ABC-7 it was the mistake of her campaign treasurer at the time.

“I returned the money, I paid the fine and I took full responsibility for it,” Ness Garcia said.

As for her complaint against Lilly, Ness Garcia said she continues to work with an El Paso police detective on the case.