Bexar County Buying Agent Patricia Torres was going through an array of complaints — from mismanaging authorities contracts to having retained a employees member who confronted prison drug costs — when the board overseeing her function determined to open it as much as different candidates final August.
Even so, Torres’ years of expertise in an obscure discipline helped her make it to the ultimate interview phases within the candidate choice course of final week, earlier than a unique candidate was in the end chosen.
The buying agent oversees contract procurement for the county throughout its roughly $3 billion price range — a task that’s designed to create a check-and-balance system between the elected officers making spending choices and the price range workplace executing the contracts.
The place’s employment is overseen by a not often convened board of three civil court docket judges and two county commissioners, nonetheless, making it tough to vary instructions if county leaders consider there’s an issue.
On Friday, the Buying Agent Board provided the place to Gregory Galloway II, a U.S. Military veteran whose resume consists of overseeing contracts and procurement for the Alamo Space Council of Governments.
“We’re excited to welcome Mr. Galloway to this vital function,” mentioned Choose Ron Rangel, the board’s chair. “His in depth expertise and management will strengthen our procurement operations and help our mission of serving the neighborhood successfully.”
Torres was appointed to the function in 2020 and has taken vital warmth from some county commissioners and division leaders who mentioned she moved too slowly on county contracts.
She was not reappointed on the finish of her first two-year time period, however was allowed to stay within the function anyway.
At one level Sheriff Javier Salazar complained that she stored an worker on employees who was out on bond from a 2020 arrest involving felony drug possession costs. Extra not too long ago, Torres’ son was arrested in reference to the demise of a 21-year-old lady who was shot and killed at a Southwest Facet get together.
Of the roughly 90 candidates who utilized for the place, few had expertise with county buying insurance policies.
Torres threw her identify within the hat and was one of many highest-scoring candidates. Six candidates had been invited to interview for the place final Friday, and he or she was amongst them.
Galloway is anticipated to start out inside the subsequent a number of weeks.
