Sepulveda: Roy Rodriguez is not my uncle

I kind of put together some words that I wanted to share in regards to citizen communication.

The purpose of citizen communication is really to promote transparency and civic dialog. But when individuals come to this podium and use it more as a shield to knowingly lie and take advantage of the fact that the Commission here can’t respond in the moment because we’re governed by rules in our meetings, it then turns into more of a tool to be used for things like manipulation instead of accountability. 

So for those of you that were not here at the last meeting, you’re not going to be aware of the things that I’m saying, and I apologize. But I did want to make sure that I take the time to put this on the record for those that were and those that watch at home.

At our last meeting, a former commissioner stood at this podium here and accused me personally of criminal conduct, claiming that I violated nepotism laws by helping my uncle, alleged uncle, to get hired at the Harlingen WaterWorks. 

So, I want to set the record straight that the man that he referred to is not my uncle, and that the former commissioner knew that; that he came here and deliberately lied. He lied about the relationship, he lied about the law, and he lied about my involvement. 

Harlingen WaterWorks, for those that are not aware, is not taxpayer-funded. It is a legally separate entity with its own board of trustees. And while I am a member of the board, I’m a non-voting member, just like everyone else here on the Commission. 

And just like everyone on this dais, I have one appointment, just like everyone else. And Roy Rodriguez, who is now consultant over at Harlingen WaterWorks, was brought in as a consultant, not as a city employee, and by the chair of that board, of the WaterWorks board. He is not my appointee. 

Mr. Rodriguez was initially brought in by the Harlingen WaterWorks board as an independent consultant to assist during a national search that was going on for a general manager. They went twice out for this position, and some candidates along the way withdrew, while others, the board determined, were not qualified or were not the right fit for the organization. 

So when no permanent person could be appointed to that position, they expanded the consulting role for Roy Rodriguez and made him an interim GM (general manager), but continuing to work as a consultant. That decision was made independently, without any oversight or authorization by the Commission, which is within their right to do as the board of trustees. Again, not by me and not by anyone on this Commission. 

And yes, I do know Roy Rodriguez. Yes, I do. Not as my uncle, but many of you will know that I do know him because he is actually my husband’s uncle and not mine. But the former commissioner knew that when he came here. Because he knows Roy Rodriguez because Roy does have deep ties to this community here in Harlingen. 

So let’s be honest. Why he was asked to serve as the Harlingen WaterWorks consultant in the interim, as they continue to search for their GM, is because he is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in public service. He actually served here. He was a city engineer here in Harlingen. Then he moved on, and he was a city manager here for Harlingen, and he actually hired Gabe Gonzalez, who is our amazing city manager, and we’re very thankful for that. He then later left and went to McAllen and served as the general manager at their public utility for over a decade, and then served as city manager in McAllen until his retirement for another decade or so. So he didn’t need anybody’s help, surely not mine. He was doing this work long before I even decided to hold public office. 

So to shut down all of this misinformation completely, I asked our city attorney, Mark Sossi, to form a legal opinion and to provide me the assurance that I already knew that I had. And, in short, he basically said that Roy Rodriguez is a contractor/consultant, not a W-2 employee; works for Harlingen WaterWorks as a consultant. No blood relationship to myself, and under the Texas Government Code and our City Charter, he is not within the prohibited degrees of affinity, which is a fancy way of saying that even though he’s related to my husband, it is not within the realm of where it would violate our charter or the state. There has been no violation of any nepotism law, whether it be state or local. 

And here’s a real issue, the former commissioner has the right to stand at this podium, as does anyone else, and lie. Yes, you can come up here and you can say what you wish. He does it every single time he shows up, and most of the community knows that. That’s his right, which is everyone’s right. But he does not have the right to publicly and falsely accuse me or anyone on this dais of committing a crime. That crosses a line, and that’s not protected opinion, and that is defamation, and that’s why I’m speaking up now. This wasn’t just an offhand comment. It was calculated. It was the act of a mendacious, someone so obsessed with me that they’re willing to fabricate criminal wrongdoings just to get attention. 

And so we’ve all tolerated the fake blogs, the spliced videos, the constant misinformation. But we cannot stay silent when someone weaponizes this forum to accuse me or anyone else on this dais of crimes that have not been committed. 

So, the community deserves better, and I’ll always defend the truth. Thank you for indulging me on all the records and the facts. And I know that this took up a lot of time, but it was important to share, because we always have to defend the law and do so without fear. 

Thank you. 

Editor’s Note: The above commentary was read aloud by Harlingen Mayor Norma Sepulveda at a recent Harlingen City Commission meeting.

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