County grievance
Former elections administrator claims he was 'wrongfully terminated'
Former Ector County Elections Administrator Robert Mendoza lodged a grievance against Ector County and its elections commission Monday, saying he is seeking a review of his termination.
Mendoza, who plans to file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, said he hasn’t filed suit against the county or elections commission at this point.
Mendoza stated in a news release that “contrary to statute, I was not fired for ‘good and sufficient cause.’ Indeed, the county judge publicly stated I was fired for my ‘personality,’ and that my work performance was fine.
“Additionally, I was never formally or informally evaluated or even given a performance review, and I was never formally or informally criticized, warned, cautioned or in any way made aware of such criticisms. The county never, during the term of my appointment, utilized any means available to them to bring matters of deficient performance to my attention….”
County Judge Susan Redford said the county and the elections commission would take a wait-and-see stance.
“What we have to do is wait, and after the EEOC receives his complaint, then we’ll respond. I feel certain that we acted within our rights.”
Mendoza said that much of the time since his termination on June 11, he’s been performing military service with the U.S. Navy Reserves in New York.
