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Resident alleges nepotism at Harlingen Water Works; mayor’s family ties raised during public comment
Summary
A Harlingen resident told the commission the mayor’s uncle was hired as a consultant at Harlingen Water Works at $20,000 per month and raised concerns about local hiring rules and reputational damage; no formal action followed during the meeting.
During the public‑comment period of the Harlingen City Commission meeting on July 1, resident Robert Leftwich told the commission he believed nepotism influenced a recent Harlingen Water Works hire and cited city and state rules that he said the appointment violated.
"He's getting paid $20,000 a month at the Harlingen Water Works," Leftwich said, referring to the mayor’s uncle. Leftwich said the mayor was involved in the hiring after the prior manager was fired and argued that the city’s hiring policy, the city charter and a local government code carry criminal ramifications for nepotism.
Leftwich described what he said were consequences of nepotistic hiring: reduced employee morale, decreased productivity, talent drain and reputational damage that would make prospective skilled candidates less likely to seek employment with the utility. He contrasted the consultant’s $240,000 annual compensation with typical utility director salaries listed in a municipal association salary survey for larger Texas cities.
The commission did not take formal action on Leftwich’s comments during the meeting. No city staff or commissioner response to the alleged personnel matter is recorded in the public transcript; the item remained a public comment and was not placed on the agenda for discussion or investigation during the session.
The resident’s remarks were part of the meeting’s public‑comment period, for which commissioners may not respond or deliberate on topics, as stated in the agenda notice read into the record.
