HOUSTON – Harris County commissioners voted 3 to 1 to censure Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo on Thursday after a wild meeting in court.
Hidalgo reportedly interrupted other commissioners repeatedly because she was upset that her proposal for a tax increase for early childhood education on the November ballot had failed.
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The county judge had proposed the tax increase to continue funding child care programs that began with federal pandemic relief money, which is set to expire next year. The measure would have allowed voters to decide whether to support expanded child care slots and quality improvements.
Hidalgo invited children and teachers to the courtroom to try to persuade the court. She then called recess once it became clear the measure did not have the votes.
Fellow commissioners said Hidalgo only brought up the tax increase proposal two weeks ago, and they have not had enough time to study the issue.
The proposal ultimately failed because it was not placed on the November ballot before Thursday’s noon deadline.
Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia took issue with the county judge’s decision to bring children into the courtroom to try to persuade the court.
Garcia issued the following statement regarding Thursday’s commissioner’s court:
“It’s beyond frustrating to yet again witness Judge Hidalgo’s disruptive behavior at Commissioners Court today. We must hold ourselves to the highest standards. It was particularly offensive to witness her trying to use children as props for her political agenda. The people of Harris County deserve better.”
Commissioner Lesley Briones also released the following statement:
“I was disappointed to witness Judge Hidalgo’s disruptive behavior at Commissioners Court today; it distracted from the serious issues before us. As colleagues, we may disagree, but fundamental respect and decorum are non-negotiable. The democratic process is built on civil debate, and as elected leaders we must hold ourselves to the highest standards. The people of Harris County deserves better.”
The censure for Hidalgo does not come with any punishment, but it goes in the court record that the judge failed to acknowledge points of order.
Commissioner Rodney Ellis was the only commissioner who voted against the censure.