County Elected Give Themselves a Raise

The problem with Veronica Escobar and Vince Perez is that they believe that an elected position is a career. That is why they voted themselves a raise. Yes, I know that Veronica Escobar voted against a raise for herself, but that is just a “wink, wink” deal to allow her to say she didn’t vote to give herself a raise next time she runs for office. Andrew Haggerty and Carlos Leon voted against the pay raise. David Stout joined Escobar and Perez in giving themselves a raise.

The political rhetoric from Vince Perez is that a pay raise will attract better candidates to lead the County in the right direction. Like Veronica Escobar, Vince Perez has never worked in the private sector. To both of them, a bigger paycheck is only a vote away. In the private sector, an employee works hard to make themselves valuable to the company and thus they get a raise. An owner, or shareholder looks to generate a larger revenue share through better products, services or by bringing in new customers.

Not so in the public sector. All Veronica Escobar and Vince Perez have to do is play political games and force a tax increase to pad their wallets on the backs of the taxpayers. They have made a career out of working off of the hard work of the taxpayers.

Therein lies the greatest problem, as career politicos the only thing that concerns them is what it takes to get elected into the next office. They make decisions based on that single goal and thus the taxpayers are continually drowning in taxes.

Democracy never intended career politicians. Instead, Democracy encourages representatives providing a service to their constituency, not a political career. The difference lies in that a Democracy principled politician gets elected into office to represent their constituency for a period to ensure the political entity functions as required. The service oriented politico sacrifices their time and salary for a short period of time as service to their community.

Career politicos, on the other hand, develop a mindset that they must make the same amount of money as others while focused on moving on up the political ladder. A career politico does not look to address a community problem, but rather to build support for their next tax-funded paycheck.

Do you still doubt this?

Veronica Escobar, Vince Perez and David Stout pointed to a report that they say shows that they are the least paid county elected officials. What they don’t point to is the real fact that the taxpayers, who pay their paychecks, really care about; what their own paychecks are.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the median household income for El Paso in 2014, their most recent figures, was $40,783. However, here is the most important statistic, the census data shows the most important figure; the per capital income of $18,705. Whether you take the household income, which likely included more than one wage earner, or the per capita income figure, is irrelevant because neither number comes close to what the county commissioners just voted themselves as their next paycheck.

The county judge, already making significantly more than the median taxpayer income, will now be making $102,000. The county commissioners will now be making $89,250, up from $62,680.

The people who will be paying those salaries, the taxpayers are still making significantly less than the politicos that have them mired in taxes.

How is that a representative form government?

It’s not, it is a government of self-serving interests padding their wallets on your backs.

Now you know why El Paso is the way it is – corrupt.