City of Eagle Pass Withholds Key Records in Finance Director Felix Castillo Hiring Request
EAGLE PASS, Texas — A recent public information request seeking complete hiring records for newly appointed Finance Director Felix Castillo has exposed significant transparency problems within the City of Eagle Pass. Despite a broad and detailed request made under the Texas Public Information Act, the City released only a small handful of documents and withheld the majority of the records that the law requires be disclosed.
The request asked for the full set of materials used to recruit, evaluate, select, hire, verify, and approve Felix Castillo as Finance Director. The City instead produced only a Request to Hire form and three degree certificates, along with posting of the advertisement for the position. No other hiring records were released.
What Was Requested and Not Released
The request sought the complete employment file used during the hiring process. This included the application, resume, interview notes, scoring sheets, reference checks, background checks, credential verifications, job postings, internal routing documents, emails, communications between the City Manager and council members, and any conflict-of-interest or nepotism disclosures.
None of these materials were produced.
The only document showing any internal review is the Request to Hire form, signed by City Manager Homero Balderas, recommending Felix Castillo for the Finance Director position at an annual salary of $136,517. The remaining documents supplied were three educational diplomas.
No application was provided.
No resume was provided.
No background check documents were provided.
No verification of credentials, licenses, or professional certifications was provided.
No interview scoring materials were released.
No routing chain or internal approval communications were disclosed.
This lack of documentation raises serious concerns about whether required hiring procedures were followed or whether the City is withholding records that the public is legally entitled to receive.
Public Information Act Compliance at Issue
The City did not cite any statutory basis for withholding nearly all requested records. Under the Texas Government Code, when a governmental entity chooses to withhold public information, it must identify the section of law that allows it. If the City believes any exemption applies, the law also requires the City to request an Attorney General ruling within ten business days.
As of now, the City of Eagle Pass has not released those required explanations. The public has not been informed of any Attorney General request by the City, nor has it been informed of any legal reason for the missing records.
Lack of Transparency Raises Public Concern
The Finance Director position is one of the most critical roles within the City of Eagle Pass. The director oversees all municipal finances, including budgeting, payroll, procurement, debt management, compliance, audits, and long-term financial planning. Given this responsibility, the public has an interest in knowing whether the hiring process followed proper procedures and whether the candidate met all requirements.
The absence of the application, background checks, verification of credentials, and interview evaluations leaves major gaps in understanding how Castillo was selected and whether the City exercised proper oversight.
City Documents Released So Far
The Request to Hire form indicates that City Manager Homero Balderas recommended Castillo. The form confirms the salary, pay grade, start date, and basic personnel information. The attached diplomas show degrees from Sul Ross State University. Nothing else was included in the release.
The form also indicates the position was vacant and that no other applicants or evaluations were attached. Without the remaining records, the public cannot determine whether a competitive hiring process took place.
Letter to the Texas Attorney General Planned
Because of the City’s failure to release the required documents, a formal complaint is now being prepared for the Texas Attorney General, who is responsible for enforcing the Texas Public Information Act. The complaint will detail the records requested, the lack of response, and the City’s failure to comply with statutory requirements. It will also request an investigation into the City of Eagle Pass for violating state transparency laws.
The public is entitled to full disclosure when it comes to the hiring of a major financial official. When government entities refuse to release records or produce only fragments of what the law requires, public confidence suffers. The Attorney General’s decision may determine whether the City must release the documents or whether further action is needed to correct this lack of transparency.
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