Ethics Review Commission to take up complaint against former city Rep. Claudia Rodriguez

The Ethics Review Commission is set to take up the ethics complaint filed against former El Paso city Rep. Claudia Rodriguez over her use of a city-issued gas card last year.

The complaint against Rodriguez was filed last month by Tom Laign, a resident of District 6, which city Rep. Art Fierro now represents following his victory over Rodriguez. It alleges that Rodriguez violated the city Ethics Code by using her city-issued fuel card for personal gain and allowing another person to use it.

"Representative Rodriguez's actions are completely unacceptable for an elected representative of the people," Laign wrote in his complaint, "and she must be called to account."

A report from city Chief Internal Auditor Edmundo Calderon showed Rodriguez used her city fuel card to purchase $5,300 worth of gas in 2022, including three back-to-back fill-ups and two instances of more than 14 gallons being purchased on the same day.

Additionally, Calderon's report showed that Rodriguez had used her city fuel card to purchase gas in Van Horn, Fort Stockton and Carlsbad, New Mexico.

In a letter to Laign, city outside counsel Frank Garza stated that the allegations in his complaint fell within the jurisdiction of the Ethics Review Commission and a hearing would be scheduled in the coming days.

The letter notes that Rodriguez, who was forwarded a copy, has 14 days to respond. For now, however, the former councilwoman is saying little.

"While I respect the rights of Mr. Laign to file such a complaint, I plan to vigorously defend myself, my reputation and the actions I took while in office," Rodriguez said in a statement issued Tuesday afternoon. "I will not be making any further statements regarding the nature of this complaint to protect the integrity of the process and to ensure that no outside influence interferes with the facts that I will be presenting to the Ethics Commission."

The complaint against Rodriguez is only the latest fallout from the ongoing gas card scandal, which resulted in a reprimand for El Paso city Rep. Cassandra Hernandez in late July. Hernandez attempted to overturn the Ethics Review Commission decision, alleging bias by Chairman Casey Williams, but was unsuccessful.

Hernandez is now facing a citizen-led recall effort boasting more than 50 volunteers.