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Allegations of Mistakes, Misconduct
and Corruption
Petition Site Protests Handling of County Auditor's ArrestJuly-10-07 CAMERON COUNTY -- A concerned citizen has started an online petition asking citizens to sign on to express their ‘disappointment’ in the way the Cameron County District Attorney handled the recent arrest of County Auditor Mark Yates.According to the web page which is titled “So Very Disappointing…”, the petition has nothing to do with what Yates, has or has not done. This is simply a reaction to the handling of the situation by the Cameron County District Attorney, Armando Villalobos.County Auditor Yates was arrested last week on a charge of violating the Texas bidding process. He was hand-cuffed at his office and later placed in a county-issued jumpsuit and sandals for his arraignment on the misdemeanor charge.The charge against Yates stems from a $1 million contract with United of Omaha Life Insurance, which was renewed under his authority without the consent of the Commissioners Court. By law, all contracts worth more than $2,500 must have majority approval.The petition site argues that since media was present for Yates’ arraignment, “someone informed them the arrest was to take place and wanted to make sure they were there to film it” and describes the actions of county law enforcement as crossing the line of “just stinky county politics.”The stated goal of the petition is to collect one thousand electronic signatures. Early Tuesday morning, 341 signatures had been posted, some with commentary.Signers of the petition are voicing their disappointment in the DA’s handling of the case and in county government in general.· “The arrest of a public official for allegedly committing such a minor offense has just added to the large amount of corruptness in Rio Grande Valley politics,” posted Travis Lechowit.· “This can't pass a dead skunk in the middle of the political road smell test. The only fragrance is of ex Judge Hinojosa. Looks like payback politics to me,” writes Delton Lee.· Agnieszka Szczepanska posted, “I was stunned by the way Mark Yates was treated for something he was accused of. Whatever it is, as of now, these are allegations only. It is quite "fishy" to me that eight law enforcement officers were sent to arrest him (is he that dangerous?)”.· And Kathy Lopez said, “County Government and politics are becoming increasingly more disappointing every year.But not everyone posting on the site blames the politicization of the arrest on Villalobos.“So you think politics have anything to with this whole thing,” Yura Nace of Texas writes. “It's funny how through this whole thing Y.DeLeon's name keeps coming up, along with all her Harlingen connections, and you all are the ones making the implication that this is all political, well I would have come up with that one on my own just reading the story.”“I do agree that this is a pitiful attempt at political advancement and it will be remembered at the polls, What you now have to ask yourselves "Is what side of the glass are you really on, are you absolutely sure your looking at the animal in the cage or are WE all looking in at YOU,” says Nace.For more on this please read County Auditor Arrested . You can read more comments, post your own, or sign the petition here. Share this article with a friend Get articles like this in your email |
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