Monday - Friday
8:00 am - 5:00 pm

500 E. San Antonio
Suite 301
El Paso, Texas 79901
Phone (915) 546-2111
Fax (915) 543-3817
commissioner2
@epcounty.com

El Paso County Commissioner Pct. 2
Veronica Escobar

  • County blocks re-appointment of Thomason board chair
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  • By Erica Molina Johnson / El Paso Times

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  • Article Launched: 03/27/2007 12:00:00 AM MDT

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  • Commissioner Veronica Escobar tried to appoint Rosemary Castillo as her nomination to the El Paso County Hospital District Board of Managers on Monday, but the move was killed by the votes of three court members.

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  • Escobar's appointee is one of four open for nominations on the seven-member board this month.
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  • Castillo is currently the board's chairwoman, and is the former county judge's appointee.
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  • Escobar said she would post the item again on next week's agenda. She said keeping Castillo on the board would provide continuity for the hospital district during a time of great change and expansion.
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  • "She will bring a lot of stability, a lot of experience, a lot of integrity," Escobar said.
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  • County Judge Anthony Cobos argued against appointing Castillo, asking the court to wait until next week after the blue ribbon committee for governance reform at the El Paso County Hospital District has made its recommendations. The committee is set to meet at noon Thursday in the county judge's conference room on the third floor of the County Courthouse.

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  • "I think it would be a slap in the face without even hearing their recommendations," he said during the meeting.

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  • He said the actions today are an indication of paranoia and hypocrisy.
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  • "I'm a bit suspicious now," he said. "It seems like a desperate attempt to keep her on."
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  • Escobar said appointing Castillo is an attempt to keep the district running as well as it has.
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  • "Call it paranoid. I've been with this body for three months and I can see the judge has three votes to do whatever he wants to," she said.
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  • Cobos and Commissioners Miguel Terán and Luis Sariñana voted against allowing the appointment. Commissioner Dan Haggerty voted yes along with Escobar.
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  • "Veronica is in good shape, she should do what she did," Haggerty said. "It's her appointment and I support her appointment. I had issues with (former Commissioner) Betti (Flores) appointing Arturo Duran, but he was her appointment. Judge Cobos had an appointment for chief of staff and he was my opponent, but I voted in favor of it."
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  • Cobos said he anticipates all four seats on the board will be filled at next Monday's meeting.
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  • Erica Molina Johnson may be reached at emolina@elpasotimes.com; 546-6132.