Mercedes mayor's job offer questioned

Mayor Joel Quintanilla has been offered a $62,000-a-year day job with the Mercedes school district, school board members said, but one local businessman says the mayor isn't qualified for the position.

[los hijos de villa]

It's a saddening situation for our community. The mayors sole claim to fame is an outlet that originated several years before he even took office. The "compradismo" that exists within this community has kept our community down for many years. School board members should never have placed the school district and community in this situation. School board members should know better. Why would you offer someone with no formal training such a position. Was the position for which the mayor applied even announced in the valley newspapers? I don't believe it was. School board members should really reconsider their decision because it will come back to bite them where the good lord split them. Have some respect for the positions that you hold. You were electedd to represent the people of this community and not your personal interest.

[Gilbert]

Mr. Quintanilla may be better qualified than a college graduate that has little or no real world experience. He has been a building contractor for many years. As far as a conflict of interest, I'm sure that the school board attorney investigated that claim before the board acted.

[No secrets]

Gilbert, you have no earthly idea what you are talking about. The fact remains that the job description for this Directorship, for which Quintanilla has been offered, was changed on June 28, 2008. The changes include: education required and even the titel, from director to manager. How convenient. This was just in time to allow Quintanilla to apply and qualify. Whether the legalities are in place is not the issue. Morally and ethically ...IT is wrong when you use your position to get what you want. There are employees who have masters degrees and have over 24 years of experience and DO NOT, DO NOT make anything close to $63,000. The employees have invested their time and money to get an education and have professional employment. And yes...Quintanilla has 24 years of construction experience, but absolutely has not earned the right to a directorship that pays 63,000 dollars.
But we'll see...I hear he is planning to run for a higher office in Hidalgo county. I'll tell you one thing..the professionals at MISD will not vote for him.