El Paso city representative reprimanded over excessive use of taxpayer fuel card

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14) — The City of El Paso Ethics Commission ruled Thursday night that city Rep. Cassandra Hernandez violated the city ethics ordinance by excessively using her taxpayer fuel card.

The commission voted unanimously to issue Hernandez a letter of reprimand.

According to the City of El Paso's ethics ordinance, a letter of reprimand is issued when the ethics review commission finds that a violation of this chapter was committed intentionally or through disregard of this chapter.

"All those in favor of recommending a letter reprimand be issued for violations of subchapter article 2A1 and A7 say "I" . All those opposed? So the motion carries," said Chairman Williams.

No further action will be taken by the commission and the probe into Hernandez is now considered closed.

The Ethics Review Commission Chairman stated that she violated the following:

1.) Shall not use their official positions improperly to secure unwarranted privileges or exemptions for themselves, relatives, or others. This provision does not preclude officers or employees from acting in any manner consistent with their official duties or from zealously providing public services to anyone who is entitled to them;

7.) Shall not utilize city resources or by omission allow city resources to be utilized for personal benefit or the personal benefit of any other person or entity, except to the extent that the benefit received is strictly incidental to the performance of official duties, or to the extent that the person is entitled by law to obtain public services from the city;

“The evidence has shown that unauthorized uses on that card have been made. We are talking about folks that are using that card that are not representative Hernandez," said one of the commissioners.

“Mrs. Hernandez and her own spouse who both admitted that they used the card, that they shared the card, that they knew the pin for the card, and that they both knew that her husband is not a city employee anymore, not an officer, not an authorized user," said Williams.

”It sounds like her husband has access to it, a father-in-law has access to it, potentially some friends. If you don’t know who has access to these things, you clearly have violated this concern.”

This comes after George Zavala, an El Pasoan who lives in Hernandez’s district, filed an ethics complaint against her following a report from the city auditor that showed Hernandez purchased roughly $6,600 worth of gasoline in 2022, which she later paid back to the city.

“As mr. Calderon stated that it’s not common standards to hand a card to a spouse or someone else that is not authorized and to me, that’s another unethical behavior," said Zavala.

Representative Cassandra Hernandez shared the following statement:

Press Release Rep Hernandez Ethics Complaint by Erika Esquivel on Scribd

Representative Hernandez can still file a petition to appeal the decision but she can only do this if there is new evidence that has not been shown to the commission, according to the city's ethics ordinance.

On the second day of the hearing, the commissioners heard from the public including Hernandez' mother Norma Alvarado-Chavez.

Cassandra Hernandez testifies on day two of the Ethics hearing against her.
CREDIT: KFOX14/CBS4.

"I don't like to see my daughter under attack all the time as a mother I always believed in her and I know that she has remained true to her principals," Alvarado-Chavez said.

Most of the hearing was spent listening to members of the public.

Some El Pasoans said Hernandez needed to be held accountable.

"She [Hernandez] needs to be held accountable, she needs to be held responsible, and it would be a disservice to the community if something isn't done that you guys are sticking up for us the people of El Paso," Melissa Bailey said.

The commissioners then cross-examined Hernandez and the city's internal auditor Edmundo Calderon.

During the cross-examination, Hernandez shared her personal expenses and travel history.

"It demonstrates my financial expenses for my household indicating that there's been no benefit to me," Hernandez said.