(San Benito News/Ray Quiroga)
By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
Following a closed-door session, San Benito Commissioners approved a $37,500 payment to Carpe Nox Industries, LLC for services related to the recent Hog Waddle Festival, which was held at the San Benito Fairgrounds.
The commission’s 4-1 vote occurred during a regular meeting on March 17, and, according to Carpe Nox Industries’ contract, the headliner, Charley Crockett, was paid $250,000 for his 90-minute performance.
The $37,500 was paid from the City of San Benito’s Festivals and Events Budget.
An executive summary sent to commissioners before their meeting read: “Given that Carpet Nox Industries fulfilled its contractual obligations in coordinating the featured artist and providing the services detailed in the contract, staff finds the expenditure appropriate and aligned with the approved event scope.”
Mayor Pro Tem Thomas W. Goodman II made the motion to approve, pending final legal review, with a second from Commissioner Joe E. Navarro.
Commissioner Deborah A. Morales opposed it. In fact, she initially requested further discussion when the item was introduced at the open meeting, but was advised by legal counsel not to do so.
“Any legal questions regarding contractual parameters, I would suggest taking into executive session for exposure reasons,” said San Benito Attorney Javier Villalobos.
Morales then questioned why an executive session was needed, since it appeared the vote was just a procedural step, as it had been the month before.
Attorney Villalobos responded: “Just because of the question of the two prior contracts that I have to provide a legal opinion, I feel more comfortable giving you the answer due to privilege.”
In February, the commissioners approved a continued professional services agreement with Carpe Nox Industries. They also decided that the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) would assess Roy Soto Garcia of Carpe Nox Industries based on his yearly performance.
It included Garcia’s responsibilities for all major operational aspects of the inaugural Summer Concert Series, held in July and August 2025, which attracted about a dozen entertainers and thousands of attendees to the San Benito Fairgrounds.
Regarding the Hog Waddle Festival contract with Carpe Nox Industries, Garcia managed catering, talent rider needs, generators, lighting, sound, stage, and stagehands.
The contract also read “returning 25 percent revenue after expenses for the day back to the City of San Benito.”
Morales said she agreed to the $37,500 payment but wanted to make it clear that she questioned the percentage from alcohol sales returned to the City.
This comes on the heels of revelations that the EDC went over budget by more than $1M hosting the Summer Concert Series in 2025, with the agency’s fund balance decreasing to $5.08M from $6.45M, year-to-date.
The EDC’s quarterly financial report for July to September 2025 includes the Soul of South Texas Summer Concert Series, which featured nine shows from July to August at the San Benito Fairgrounds.
Last year, the EDC allocated $900,000 for its first summer concert series, while officials reserved $100,000 for advertising, according to the report.
The EDC is helmed by Fred Sandoval, who is also the San Benito City Manager. Three current San Benito Commissioners are also members of the EDC’s board, along with San Benito Mayor Ricardo “Rick” Guerra, who serves as an ex officio member, alongside Morales, Goodman, and Commissioner Pete Galvan.
Galvan, who is running against the incumbent Guerra for mayor, has called for tighter controls on spending and has highlighted this as a key point in his campaign.
Likewise, Morales, seeking re-election to the commission against retired LEO Daniel Cortez, who is also on the EDC Board, according to the entity’s website, has also emphasized this issue.
Commissioner Goodman posted his response on Facebook. The incumbent up for reelection asked, “How much money should a small community’s Economic Development Corporation be hanging onto?”
He continues, “The purpose of that money is to attract more business and investment to the community, thereby increasing the overall tax base. When I saw that San Benito was sitting on $6M and there was no real plan to use it as intended, I was stunned. There was no economic development plan.”
He added, “So, we started thinking. What sets San Benito apart? What makes us different? What do we have to offer the Valley, and the world for that matter? …Who can argue that San Benito has soul?”
“Last summer, at a high cost, yes, we learned that people want what San Benito offers. We can transform San Benito into the cultural hub of the Valley. We can define the next generation of Conjunto music and build on the successes of Freddy Fender, Narciso Martinez, and the emerging Charley Crockets,” he added.
“But you need to have a vision to move forward, to look outward, not just inward,” he remarked.