Danny Valdez pushing hard on filing lawsuits in CAA fiasco

It appears that Webb County Judge Danny Valdez is in a real hurry to file lawsuits stemming from the CAA fiasco. More accurately, Valdez is trying just a little bit too hard and it has some wondering why. According to today's Laredo Morning Times, Valdez and Webb attorney Ana Laura Cavazos exchanged more than a few words over this suddenly sensitive issue. Here's some excerpts from LMT's Andrew Kreighbaum's coverage.

From the Laredo Morning Times
 

A tense exchange took place Monday as Webb County Judge Danny Valdez demanded to know why County Attorney Anna Cavazos Ramirez was not proceeding faster with lawsuits against employees who abused the county’s Weatherization Assistance Program.

But the progress of any legal action has been stymied by lack of access to weatherization files held by FBI investigators and an absence of county employees trained to determine eligibility for the weatherization program, Cavazos Ramirez said.

“I just want it on the record we’re asking you,” Valdez said. “We’ve already told you to file civil action. What is it you need to complete the files?”

The two spoke over each other several times as Valdez repeatedly questioned what documents would allow the cases to proceed. Cavazos Ramirez said she needed the address of each weatherized home and a name attached to it as well as a purchasing order submitted to the contractor. In many cases, a home was submitted to the weatherization program under a name other than the owner’s.

“I’m not sure what your purpose is here, Judge,” Cavazos said.

Apparently, Ms. Cavazos was not the only wondering what Judge Valdez's purpose is. In the comments accompanying this article, a reader essentially echoed the same concerns.

doubleg wrote on Mar 15, 2011 8:20 AM:

" What is Danny Valdez going to do if the FBI determines that the Contractors overbilled the County or billed for work not performed. Will they be prosecuted as well? The hourly employees could not possibly have proceeded with these illegal actions without a directive. Who gave the orders on the upper rung of the ladder? What Officials were involved? Is the big rush for the purpose of getting closure and having the real culprits escape prosecution? Let's not use scape goats anymore. Let's go after the real guilty parties. We need the County Attorney to take her time and get to the bottom of the rotten barrel. Get the District Attorney involved and if he refuses he can invite the Attorney General to the party. Let's punish the real crooks and not make the taxpayers pay for their greed. "