Supervisor Perez has Made No Statement on His Chief of Staff Pleading Guilty to Felony Why? [Opinion]

There comes a point where silence stops being neutral and starts speaking for itself.

The case involving Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez is no longer pending; it’s resolved. A felony conflict of interest plea. He can no longer hold public office in California.

He has lost the ability to vote, yet remains in a position to influence those who do, helping guide budgets, policy, and daily decisions that directly impact the people of Riverside County.

At the same time, he has been serving as Chief of Staff to Riverside County Supervisor Manny Perez, the most senior position in that office. A role that helps shape decisions affecting our communities every day.

And yet, there has been no clear statement; no decisive action.

So, the question now isn’t complicated, it’s unavoidable:

  • Why hasn’t anything been said?
  • Why hasn’t anything been done?
  • Why the continued silence from leadership?

At one point, giving the benefit of the doubt may have been appropriate. That time has passed. The legal outcome is clear. What remains unclear… is the lack of response.

Meanwhile, taxpayers continue to foot the bill.

Mr. Hernandez has reportedly been on paid administrative leave since late October, nearly five months. That’s roughly ten pay periods taxpayers have covered for a position that is not being fulfilled.

For a role that pays over $182,000 a year, that’s real money earned by working families, being spent without a clear return.

And when clarity exists, but action does not, people begin to ask:

Is this a failure of judgment?
Or is there something else preventing action?

Because when the facts are no longer in dispute, the public naturally starts to wonder:

  • What is the hesitation?
  • What is the hold-up?
  • Is there something we’re not being told?
  • Why hasn’t this been addressed with the transparency the public deserves?

The public also deserves to ask: why does it consistently take La Quinta City Councilman Steve Sanchez to surface and address issues that should already be identified and handled at the Supervisor level?

When the facts are clear, and action still doesn’t follow, it is reasonable for the public to expect answers.

Taxpayers are not a line item; they are the people we serve.

As elected officials, we don’t have the luxury of avoiding difficult decisions, we have the duty to make them.

If there is a reason for the lack of action, the public deserves transparency.
If there is not, then the path forward is clear.

Because leadership is not tested when things are easy, it is revealed when they are not.

Supervisor Perez, the public is listening. When will they hear from you?

 

Image Sources

  • No ocomment: Shutterstock