City Rep. Romero Denies Conflict of Interest

answering questions about why he didn’t disclose his ties with a financial advisor he had asked the city to hire. our maria garcia staying on top of the ongoing controversy out of city hall. romero says he had nothing to gain if the city had hired his former business partner noe hinojosa. romero says he didn’t disclose he worked with hinojosa because it was so long ago: 06:08 but surely you can understand why it raises eyebrows that you didn’t mention that you had worked for him… even though it was 12 or 15 years ago, you think that makes it that relevant that i should have said something romero admits he spoke to former city manager joyce wilson – soon after he was elected – about estrada hinojosa – but says he wasn’t pushy. 10:15 okay fine. so i backed off. i didn’t push it. i didn’t come out and say you better hire them or else. i just sat there and said ‘okay i just wanted to know what the process was.’ that was that. romero also admits he called hinojosa soon after being elected to quote ask why he wasn’t doing business with the city. but only because of the company’s good reputation he says. 09:21 they’re the second largest firm in the state of texas. have you seen the work that they do? 09:44 obviously you all think that i’ve been partners with them since 15 years ago and that’s not true but i knew they did good work. i trusted them. they’re very good people. the city didn’t go through with it, but last spring did start to look for a new financial advisor – at romero’s suggestion. and again: romero did not disclose his history with hinojosa – who was competing for the job: 10:50 look i get that most of us don’t say i worked for this person and this person but most of us aren’t elected officials and that’s a basic tenet of open government is discolosing i hear what you’re saying maria, but again if i was such good friends with them as you all are trying to portray me to be – they didn’t give me any campaign contributions. they didn’t solicit funds from me. there has been nothing like that. mayor leeser ordered separate reports from the city manager and the internal auditor on why the city started looking for a new financial advisor – without the full council’s knowledge. the mayor says the city could hire an outside investigator too, but he first wants to see if answers can be found without spending tax dollars. romero’s full interview is on kvia.com. and also related: city representative emma acosta says she’s returning a 1- thousand dollar contribution