Rep. Cassandra Hernandez's husband files bar complaint against Ethics Commission chairman

The ongoing tension over city Rep. Cassandra Hernandez's ethics ordinance violation has led to a complaint being filed against El Paso Ethics Review Commission Chairman Casey Williams with the State Bar of New Mexico.

Williams is a lawyer by trade.

The complaint was filed by Jeremy Jordan, Hernandez's husband, a week before another letter was sent to city officials urging them to reconsider the recent reprimand against Hernandez over her use of a taxpayer-funded fuel card by the commission.

More: City Rep. Cassandra Hernandez clapping back after Ethics Review Commission reprimand

"I don't find it surprising that after that complaint had been filed, that an appeal had been made," Williams said.

The bar complaint was dismissed in short order by the New Mexico Supreme Court's Disciplinary Board. The board stated that it had found "insufficient evidence to support (Jordan's) allegations that (Williams) has violated the rules of professional conduct."

Jordan's complaint listed allegations against Williams, which he called "libelous, maliciously false accusations," as making false statements, revealing confidences, having a conflict of interest and incompetence.

The accusations in Jordan's complaint are similar to the arguments made in Hernandez's subsequent letter to city officials alleging that Williams, who ran a heated campaign against Hernandez for the East-Central District 3 seat in 2017 and two years later filed an ethics complaint against her, should have been recused from the ethics hearing.

His failure to recuse himself, the letter alleges, represents a breach of the city ethics code and therefore warrants a reconsideration of the commission's ruling.

Williams received a copy of the complaint and immediately filed his response online. He said Jordan likely filed the complaint because he was upset over the commission's July 20 decision.

More: Rep. Cassandra Hernandez reprimanded by ethics commission for her gas card usage

"When I responded to the state bar, I reminded them that this is a political appointment that I had received unanimously by the (El Paso City Council) twice and I was unanimously elected as the chair," Williams said. "And it's not for any compensation of any kind, I am a public servant that is volunteering his time."

He also described how he had conferred with City Attorney Karla Nieman and outside counsel Frank Garza ahead of Hernandez's ethics hearing about a possible conflict of interest and both attorneys advised him that his recusal was not necessary.

"Mr. Williams has provided a history of the (ethics hearing) proceedings and the determination of the Ethics Review Commission, both of which make clear that we would not be able to prove that Mr. Williams acted improperly in any regard," the disciplinary board's response stated. "Thus, the disciplinary board will take no further action."

Hernandez's appeal is set to go before the Ethics Review Commission on Wednesday, Aug. 23. Williams has agreed to recuse himself from that hearing, according to an email from Nieman.

More: El Paso City Council continues investigation into members' 'excessive' fuel card use

Hernandez opted to stay mum on the topic — when asked for comment on Jordan's complaint, she stated, "We don't work together in this fashion."

Jordan likewise declined to be interviewed but said the following in an emailed statement: "Since his 2017 electoral defeat to Rep. Hernandez, Mr. Williams has persistently targeted her, both in public forums and on his social media platforms.

"Given Mr. Williams past character attacks, it's almost inconceivable that he would impartially serve as chair of the Ethics Commission. The city's ethics ordinance is clear: a commissioner should recuse themselves even if there's merely a perception of bias. Mr. Williams's past attacks (against) Rep. Hernandez undeniably present such a perception. In recent hearings, his behavior seemed less about upholding standards and more about playing judge, jury and executioner. My faith in the city of El Paso's internal standards is shaken, prompting my decision to escalate this to a higher authority."

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Rep. Hernadez's husband files bar complaint against Ethics chairman