Commissioners respond to backlash, accusations over locally-based ID

It’s a topic that’s raised a lot of ire and emotion. As El Paso County investigates getting involved with the possible creation of a locally-based identification card, the debate has gotten heated at times.

“So it’s not duplicating their services if they’re not even providing the IDs to this population,” said Commissioner David Stout, (D) Precinct 2 during the Commissioners Court meeting Monday.

“The population aren’t citizens of this country” said Commissioner Andrew Haggerty, (R) Precinct 4. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to sound like a racist, but they’re not citizens here. I don’t have a Mexican ID because I’m not a citizen of Mexico.”

But there was as much going on outside of Commissioners Court in terms of accusations around this issue.

“I don’t like being called a racist,” Haggerty said. “I don’t like when people call me a racist in front of my children. I find that very disrespectful and hurtful. But I was not put into office to just go along with the flow. And I have my beliefs. I’m very clear on my beliefs.”

Haggerty said he’s been approached by people while out with his family on the issue. It’s his belief that whatever the merits of the idea, he just doesn’t think the county should be involved in it.

“An ID – it’s not our role to do that, our role to spend upwards of a million dollars to create IDs that may or may not be useful,” Haggerty said. “I don’t understand the point in it.”

Stout, who put forth the item on the county’s agenda, puts startup estimates from $400,000 to $800,000. That would be shared by the agencies and local governments joining in.

At the same time as Haggerty was reacting however, rumors were being suggested that Stout had family in Mexico that would directly benefit from such a card. That’s something he said just isn’t true.

“I don’t have any family in Mexico,” Stout said. “I’m not Mexican. I’m not even Hispanic. I have no Hispanic descent. Stout’s not a Mexican name. It’s Scotch, I believe. But no, I don’t have any family members in Mexico.”

Commissioners did vote 4-1 for staff to move ahead on investigating the local ID, with Haggerty opposed. Staff recommendations are expected to be brought back to commissioners for a decision in the next few months.