Mayor logs 50,000 + miles in 16 months

In 16 months Nogales Mayor Octavio Garcia-Von Borstel has had exclusive use of a new SUV purchased for him and the council, reportedly racking up more than 50,000 miles.

In May 2008, Garcia-Von Borstel and the Nogales City Council voted to purchase the new black Chevy Tahoe ostensibly so that the elected officials could get around in style.

“It’s about image,” the mayor said in a subsequent conversation. “Image is important for a city like ours on the border” that is the gateway to billions of dollars in trade.

The 1998 Ford Crown Victoria that was replaced had been used by four former mayors who had among them racked up 58,000 miles in nearly 10 years of driving the non-descript white sedan.

Council members have not expressed a desire to use the new SUV. In fact, when it was approved, Councilman Nubar Hanessian questioned the need for an eight-passenger vehicle. When told the Tahoe could accommodate the entire council and mayor, he reminded his colleagues that whenever a majority meets, by state law, it must be posted 24 hours in advance.

Nevertheless, the SUV was authorized at a cost of about $40,000 in part because, according to an order by the mayor and council “said vehicle is in the best interest and welfare of the City of Nogales.”

Now, in the wake of several dings on the body, numerous tire changes, and the mileage nearing that of the ’98 Crown Vic, Garcia-Von Borstel is under fire. Councilwoman Esther Melendez Lopez has requested the issue be placed on the agenda of the next regular meeting on Oct. 7. In an interview, she said “his use of the vehicle is not in the best interest and welfare of the city. It is excessive and we need to establish procedures as to its use.”

On Thursday, Garcia-Von Borstel stepped outside a meeting of the Greater Nogales Santa Cruz County Port Authority to address a reporter’s questions via telephone. He said the criticism of his use of the Tahoe “is an effort to slow or stop my hard work ethics. But I am going to continue to do outreach and establish relationships that are so critical to the success of this administration.

“That is my job. It is all about strengthening and establishing relationships and specifically do outreach,” he said. “The mileage on the vehicle demonstrates exactly that �“ the dedication and commitment from my office to carry out this responsibility.

“I regularly meet with local, state and government officials from both sides of the border. For example, I attended the inauguration of the new governor of Sonora, Guillermo Padres by invitation.

Garcia-Von Borstel recently flew to Mexico City where he met the newly elected congressmen from Sonora, Miguel Pompa Corella, Jose Luis Leon-Perea, Rogelio Diaz Brown and Odesimo Marsicales.

“On Sunday, I met with Nogales’ Sonora Mayor Jose Angel Hernandez and former Mayor Marco Antonio Martinez Dabdoub in Hermosillo when Padres was administered the oath of office,” he said.

On this side of the border he also has traveled to meet with the congressional delegation, state legislators and the governor, he said.

“This administration has been successful; we’ve set goals and �- are achieving them,” Garcia-Von-Borstel said. “I am not going to let anyone stop me from trying to put Nogales on the map. Just look at the successes we’ve had �“ the soccer field lights, the construction of Camp Little Park; a Double-A bond rating; and a $4.7 million rainy-day fund. No other city, the county and even the state can say that. We have been able to retain 100-percent employment. We have not laid anyone off.

“Through advocacy, we have not let the doors shut in Nogales. Look at the expansion project of the Mariposa Port of Entry,” he said.

Councilman Arturo Garino believes the mayor has abused the privilege of using the city vehicle, he said.

Already suspicious after he disproved statements during the budgeting process about the safety of city trucks and equipment, “I noticed what I felt were high gasoline and fuel expenses,” Garino said.

Authorized by City Manager (Jaime) Fontes to look into fleet issues, Garino requested the records of 105 vehicles, not including those used for public safety (police and fire).

“When I saw the (Tahoe) expenses, I could not believe it,” he said.

Garino has formally requested Interim City Attorney Jose Luis Machado to investigate.

In a letter to Machado, he said, “As I reviewed these documents, I discovered that one vehicle did not show proper mileage on several occasions.”

For two months after the Tahoe was purchased, Garcia-Von Borstel logged his mileage at the city’s bulk gasoline filling station. He was issued a key with an identification number that helps fleet management identify which vehicle is being filled.

After the second month, the field on the pump where the mileage should be input was instead filled in with the numbers “1111” or “2222” thus making it impossible to track actual mileage.

This practice continued until May 21, 2009, when the fleet department manager used his key and logged 43,957 miles. After that date, the pattern of using the fictitious numbers began again.

Queried why he did not log in actual miles, Garcia-Von Borstel said, “Simply because there is no written policy on mileage and consumption.”

After the first two months, the mayor said, “my odometer went blank and I would just punch in 1111. I’m no dummy. I know this is all public record. I encourage anyone to look it up.”