HOUSTON – Tuesday’s highly publicized fight in Harris County Commissioners Court continues to intensify as Judge Lina Hidalgo took to social media Friday morning to address the verbal brawl from earlier this week.
The county judge taking dead aim at Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia with her spirited comments via social media.
“My only regret is not having called attention sooner to his well-known history of blatant disrespect toward me and other colleagues, community leaders, and county employees who dare to disagree with him”
In regards to my confronting Commissioner Garcia on his months of disrespect: My only regret is not having called attention sooner to his well-known history of blatant disrespect toward me and other colleagues, community leaders, and county employees who dare to disagree with…
— Lina Hidalgo (@LinaHidalgoTX) August 9, 2024
Garcia on the other hand, sought to step back, taking to social media:
“I have nothing to say about the repeated outbursts at Commissioners Court or on social media,” he said. “My years of experience in public service have taught me the political arena requires the ability to not take things personally.”
I have nothing to say about the repeated outbursts at Commissioners Court or on social media. My years of experience in public service have taught me the political arena requires the ability to not take things personally.
— Adrian Garcia (@AdrianGarciaHTX) August 9, 2024
KPRC 2 Investigates’ Mario Diaz revisited Commissioner Garcia’s team for further inquiry as to why he feels this is personal. Especially with regard to the judge’s comments saying he has a “well-known history of blatant disregard toward me and other colleagues.”
In an emailed response, his press secretary told Mario the following: “We are sticking with the tweet and not giving further comment. I encourage you to look at previous commissioners’ court videos when there have been attacks on other members of the court, department heads, and staff.”
The latest development in this verbal boxing match comes days after the County Commissioner’s Court earlier this week.
It was near the end of an over 10-hour meeting, followed by a spirited conversation that went on for several minutes when the judge lashed out at fellow members of the court.
“I just don’t like this kind of rude behavior from males. I’m sorry but I don’t,” said Hidalgo who then pointed comments directly at Garcia as she called for a break. “I am done taking your disrespect.”
The exchange was a mix of heated discussions on a motion involving flood control. Bear in mind there was a “friendly amendment” being added, but things turned unfriendly very quickly, with Hidalgo at one point saying, “You guys chill, oh my God.”
Commissioner Lesley Briones attempted multiple times to get the meeting back on track by asking, “Can we please get back to the people’s work?”
Hidalgo then turned her frustration to Briones asking her, “Why don’t you instead help your colleague when somebody else is attacking her personally?”