May 3, 2016 4:15 PM

Democrats ask Rangers to investigate whether House staffer is campaigning while on the taxpayers’ dime

Republican running for State Rep. in South Texas calls it a “desperate” attack

Texas Democrats on Tuesday called for an investigation into whether the chief of staff for a Republican lawmaker has been campaigning during the time she is being compensated by the state.

In a complaint sent to the Texas Rangers, the Texas Democratic Party questions whether the Chief of Staff to Rep. Gilbert Peña, R-Pasadena, is running for office in South Texas at the same time she is on the state payroll.

Maricela De Leon is running against Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, for House District 40.

“Republican State Representative Gilbert Peña should know that bankrolling candidates on the taxpayer’s dime is an abuse of office and theft of the Texas taxpayer,” said Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa. “This is the kind of corruption that festers under one-party Republican rule,” Hinojosa said.

De Leon said this amounts to a “desperate” attack and said “Canales is running scared.”

A copy of the complaint sent by the TDP to the Rangers is here.

By Scott Braddock