Central Texas News

Racism takes many forms. Systemic or institutional racism is one of the most insidious and hard to root out. Some people think that racism is overt hatred toward people of a different race, which overlooks the laws, policies, and practices that have caused significant racial inequities such as pay gaps based on race. The race-based pay gap is real especially among college educated individuals according to information from the Economic Policy Institute. 

Merriam-Webster recently updated its definition of racism to include "a doctrine or political program based on the assumption of racism and designed to execute its principles" and "a political or social system founded on racism." 

Racism on the Hays County Commissioner’s Court most certainly exists. Commissioners Lon Shell, Walt Smith and Mark Jones offer some of the most blatant and unchecked examples of how institutional racism is perpetrated by those in power that I have seen. 

Before Lon Shell, Hays County Commissioner Pct. 3 was appointed to complete the term of his predecessor Will Conley, he was the Chief of Staff for Hays County Commissioner’s Court. That position is currently held by Alex Villalobos, Candidate for Hays County Sheriff. Mr. Villalobos holds a master’s degree in public administration and has 13 years of public sector management experience. Lon Shell holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and had not previously worked in the public sector. 

Following Mr. Villalobos hiring as chief of staff, Lon Shell, Walt Smith, and Mark Jones voted to significantly reduce the pay (from 140k to 63K) for Mr. Villalobos. In fact, Lon Shell’s own assistant, a recent college graduate, is paid nearly the same as Mr. Villalobos. While Mr. Villalobos is one of the more obvious examples of discrimination he is not an isolated example. Mr. Raul Reyes was hired on March 27, 2020 as Emergency Management Director and was let go less than a month later in executive session at the height of County preparedness for the Covid-19 pandemic. Mr. Reyes was a highly qualified emergency management professional. No explanation was given and all discussion regarding his firing occurred behind closed doors in the executive session. The position is currently being held by a Republican Precinct Chair Mike Jones. 

Jessica Mejia, Hays County Census Coordinator was also placed on administrative leave without public explanation. It was not until a public outcry of racism in Commissioner Court testimony on May 19, 2020 that was Ms. Mejia reinstated. 

While wage and employment discrimination may be the most obvious indicators of institutional racism in Hays County Government, they are not the only indicators. On March 3, 2020 agenda item 16, “Acceptance of the Racial Profiling Report from Pct. 3 Constable Office” was approved without comment or discussion. This report erroneously indicated that almost all traffic stops made in the Wimberley Valley for 2019 had been individuals of Hispanic or Latino origin while the population of the Wimberley area is only 15% Hispanic or Latino in origin. The report as presented, indicated definite profiling yet those present, Debbie Inglesbe, Walt Smith, Mark  Jones, and Lon Shell, had no questions and expressed no concern. Judge Becerra, who had not been present during the meeting where this agenda item was presented, asked for a review, explanation, and ultimate correction of the report. 

It is really hard for the average citizen to identify racism perpetrated by elected officials. That is because most of these actions occur in executive session behind closed doors. It is our responsibility as citizens to pay attention and call out these injustices. We cannot allow our elected officials to perpetuate institutional racism, they should be rooting it out. 

The recent attacks directed toward the County Judge and Hays County Democratic Sheriff Candidate have an odorous, grotesque smell of racism. You have two county leaders attempting to bring covid testing at a time when testing was non-existent, when all normal channels were cut, due to the political stonewalling of republican leaders nationally and locally. A situation where a vendor came to town trying to sell a product, presented to the commissioner’s court, a vote of the commissioners chose not to purchase COVD-19 tests, no exchange took place and no agreement was formalized. Later to find out that a letter was sent asking the Texas Rangers to look into the matter? Why? The basis of the request, came from now fired Assistant Attorney General Nick Moutos, who made tweets, threatening Black Lives Matter protesters and regularly referred to the organizers as “terrorists.” He called islam a “virus” and trans people an “abomination.” Mr. Moutos made tweets supporting QAnon conspiracy theories. “ In the year’s he has been on Twitter, Moutos has amassed over 20,000 tweets on his account, many of which are attacks - including threats of violence - against prominent Democrats. 

The Sheriff, Walt Smith, and Lon Shell strongly lobbied to an agreement to use Securus Technologies, for inmate phone and video services. Securus is now under investigation for RICO (Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) violations, by the federal government. Oh and by the way provided millions of dollars to American Structure Point, an engineering firm, where Will Conley is a new principal owner. Mr. Conely was the Republican County Judge candidate who lost to Democrat Ruben Becerra in 2018. These are real issues that the Republican lead commissioners court chooses to pay a blind eye??