The San Antonio Ethics Review Board voted Monday to fine District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee‑Rodriguez $1,000 and issue two letters of reprimand after the councilman disclosed a constituent’s personal email address on his Facebook page.
Background of the dispute
The incident began when San Antonio resident Trisha Thatcher‑Garza accused Councilman McKee‑Rodriguez, who is Black, of ignoring a request for assistance involving an elderly woman. In a heated Facebook exchange, Thatcher‑Garza called the councilman a “monkey.” McKee‑Rodriguez called the remark racist and responded by posting a screenshot of his District 2 office’s prior response, inadvertently revealing Thatcher‑Garza’s personal email address.
Ethics complaint and investigation
Juan Rider Mireles II, a private citizen, filed a sworn ethics complaint in June after seeing media coverage of the exchange. Mireles alleged two violations of the city’s ethics code: Section 2‑46, which prohibits officials from disclosing confidential information, and Section 2‑44, which bars officials from using their positions to unfairly advance or impede private interests.
Frank Garza, the outside attorney appointed to review the complaint, initially recommended proceeding only on the Section 2‑46 claim, finding no evidence of an official action that would support a Section 2‑44 violation. He also noted that the Code of Conduct and First Amendment claims fell outside the board’s jurisdiction.
Councilman’s response
McKee‑Rodriguez acknowledged that he had posted the email address and said the disclosure was inadvertent, noting that he should have redacted the information. At a July hearing, the board chose to consider the Section 2‑44 allegation despite the attorney’s recommendation. The councilman submitted an August 10 response asserting that he had not used his official position to impede Thatcher‑Garza’s interests and referenced Garza’s earlier determination.
In an August 17 reply, Mireles withdrew his support for the Section 2‑44 claim, stating that no new facts had emerged and that he could not support further action under that section. He asked the board to focus solely on the Section 2‑46 allegation.
Board’s decision
After about an hour of deliberation, the three‑member ethics panel concluded that McKee‑Rodriguez violated both Section 2‑46 and Section 2‑44. Board member Jim Reidy explained that the councilman used his “official office and position to intimidate and impede the constituent’s participation” by disseminating her personal email address, and that the constituent and her family were harassed as a result.
The board noted that while the Facebook page is labeled as the councilman’s personal account, it identifies him as a council member and includes posts about his official duties. Board Chair Phillip Ryan Garza said the councilman knew his position would amplify the post, holding him to a higher standard as an elected official with a public platform.
Penalties and next steps
The panel imposed a $500 civil fine and a letter of reprimand for each violation, the maximum penalty the board can levy for an individual violation. The $1,000 total will be deposited into the city’s general fund. McKee‑Rodriguez may appeal the decision in district court within 20 days of the board’s written opinion.
The Ethics Review Board is an 11‑member citizen panel appointed by City Council to hear complaints involving city ethics, lobbying, and municipal campaign‑finance rules. This case underscores the board’s commitment to enforcing confidentiality standards for public officials, even when the alleged conduct occurs on a personal social‑media account.
Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.
