New County Commissioner Gets Quick Initiation Into Public Life

Within minutes of being sworn in as a new El Paso county commissioner on Monday, Tania Chozet found herself in the Precinct No. 3 hot seat.

The initiation into public life for Chozet, who calls herself a private person, started almost immediately when outspoken community watchdog Salvador Gomez, blasted Chozet’s immigration views.

Gomez opposes amnesty for those who came to the U.S. illegally and fears that’s precisely what she’ll champion.

“Miss Chozet, I don’t think you’re a good choice for this court,” Gomez told her from the podium, after he found out Chozet supported immigration reform. “You’re just another puppet for County Judge (Veronica) Escobar.”

Gomez had no sympathy for the new kid in class, giving Chozet a more than three-minute-long lashing.

“By accepting the Commissioners Court seat, you have pledged an allegiance to County Judge Escobar,” Gomez continued. “Blindly, you will follow along with whatever she says, whatever vote she takes and you will go along like a stray pup.”

Gomez then closed by telling Chozet she should just leave.

“You shouldn’t be there,” he said, pointing to the dais. “You should walk outside right now and go back to wherever you came from.”

After Gomez finished, Escobar told Chozet with a laugh: “Commissioner, welcome to public service.”

Chozet seemed to handle the situation well.

“My stance is not going to change,” Chozet said with a shrug. “I’m very much a person that’s for free speech and people have a right to their opinions.”

Escobar said Chozet handled the situation with grace and dignity.

“That’s absurd,” Escobar said of the puppet comment. “I mean, it really is and it’s insulting. She’s independent, she’s smart, well educated. My decision making is focused on what is going to be in the best interest of the community.”

As for Chozet, she refused to leave and said she’d be back for more next week. Second thoughts about taking the job have not entered her mind, either.

“No, not yet … No,” Chozet said when asked if she’d had second thoughts.

Escobar said she spoke to four people about the possibility of filling the precinct three seat before appointing Chozet. Escobar would not name the other three.

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