Weslaco city manager escapes termination

WESLACO - City Manager Anthony Covacevich staved off Mayor Buddy De La Rosa's attempt to oust him Tuesday.

Commissioners spent about an hour in executive session discussing the issue but ultimately decided to keep Covacevich in place.

Instead of firing the Weslaco leader, they voted 4-3 "to show continued support" for him.

The vote fell along the commission's usual partisan lines.

De La Rosa and his allies were attempting to fire Covacevich after a memo Finance Director James Hiebert wrote last week outlining the city's poor financial state.

Hiebert recommended city commissioners increase property taxes, reduce city services or eliminate staff positions to help alleviate the city's financial crunch.

"It's another day on the job," Covacevich said after Tuesday's meeting. "As a public official, you've got to accept a certain level of political involvement."

De La Rosa had blamed Covacevich for the financial woes, attributing them largely to what he described as the city manager's uncontrolled spending.

But Covacevich and defenders said the city manager could not have been expected to anticipate factors like low sales tax revenue, high fuel prices and costs associated with Hurricane Dolly, all of which they say contributed to the current situation.

Commissioners Soyla Gonzalez, John Cuellar, Adrian Gonzalez and Lupe Rivera voted to support the city manager.

De La Rosa and allies Patrick Kennedy and Rene Rodriguez Jr. voted against the measure.

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Ryan Holeywell covers PSJA, the Mid-Valley and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956) 683-4446.