HOUSTON — Texas Senator Paul Bettencourt is calling for the resignation of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. This comes after an incident at Tuesday night’s rodeo in which Hidalgo was escorted off the premises.
Betancourt says Hidalgo’s behavior was bizarre and argues she lacks the judgment needed as head of the county’s Office of Emergency Management. He posted on social media that she should step down, citing her reaction after being denied access to the rodeo chute area. He says the issue raises serious concerns about leadership in Harris County and may prompt a legislative action.
Judge Hidalgo is set to leave office on December 31 after she opted not to run for a third term.
The backstory for those who didn’t know it yet. Hidalgo was escorted out of NRG Stadium Tuesday night during the sold-out Megan Moroney concert after reportedly not leaving the chute area, which is the ground level. She claims rodeo officials and security shoved and manhandled her, claims the rodeo denied.
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo officials said in a letter Thursday that they had told Hidalgo that she wouldn’t be allowed in the chute section because it was sold out for the show. Passes for Hidalgo and her guests were in the suite. After a lot of back and forth in chute seating, Hidalgo was escorted out of the building.
Hidalgo maintained that she never needed passes to be in the chute area before. Rodeo officials say otherwise.
In a Facebook post late Thursday night, Hidalgo described what she saw in video, and wrote that she’s moving on from this dust-up with the rodeo.
“I think at this point, we’ve done all we can do, and I am moving forward from this,” she wrote.
Hidalgo’s leadership position with rodeo revoked
After the rodeo’s letter was sent out, Hidalgo posted on social media that she’s received some footage from NRG Stadium, but none of it was relevant. She also said she got word that the rodeo executive committee voted to revoke her Ex-Officio Director status and its privileges. The rodeo confirms it was revoked.
The Ex-Officio Director status gets the following, according to rodeo officials:
Access to the NRG Park grounds, including BBQ contestAdmission to NRG Stadium, though seating is not guaranteedGold personalized badgeOne gold guest bagParking tagAll of the privileges of the board, other than votingOpportunity to purchase director club membership
Got a news tip or story idea? Email us at newstips@khou.com or call 713-521-4310 and include your name and the best way to reach you.