El Paso County commissioners' travel spending hits $234,000 since 2022

El Paso County commissioners and County Judge Ricardo Samaniego spent nearly $234,000 on travel between fiscal year 2022 and May 2026, according to an analysis by KVIA of records obtained through the Texas Public Information Act.

Commissioner David Stout accounted for more than $126,000 of that total—more than four times the spending of the next-highest spender. His travel costs peaked in fiscal year 2024 at $37,725, when he made nine trips to Austin for legislative testimony, policy meetings, and advocacy work.

The remaining commissioners' spending was considerably lower. Commissioner Iliana Holguin spent nearly $30,000; Judge Samaniego spent about $28,000; Commissioner Sergio Coronado spent almost $23,000; and Commissioner Jackie Butler, who has served 20 months, spent more than $16,412.

County records show commissioners traveled frequently to Austin, Washington D.C., Denver, and Las Vegas. Some trips extended farther: Stout traveled to Hawaii in May for a National Association of Counties conference, a trip that cost taxpayers about $4,800. He left El Paso on May 1, four days before the conference began, and stayed at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa. Judge Samaniego traveled to Taiwan last year for an economic development trip.

Stout's costliest single trip was a May 2024 visit to Yosemite for the National Association of Counties' Western Interstate Region Conference, which cost about $3,559. That same year, he attended the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials conference in Las Vegas at a cost of more than $3,250.

When interviewed by KVIA, Stout defended the spending, saying such travel helps county officials advocate for El Paso's interests in distant political centers. "I think it's very important to make sure that we have a seat at the table as often as possible," Stout said. "We are in far West Texas. Austin forgets about us often."

Stout cited an energy audit learned at a conference as an example of return on investment. He said the county subsequently worked with Schneider Electric on energy-saving infrastructure expected to save taxpayers $40 million over 20 years.

This summer, two Commissioners Court meetings were postponed so commissioners could attend educational sessions and policy meetings at a Louisiana conference.