Senator's controversial consulting work finished

It took about five years, but state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. seems to have phased out his paid consulting jobs for construction and engineering firms.

Last year, however, he still received at least $25,000 in consulting fees from the Houston-based TEDSI Infrastructure Group, according to his personal financial statement on file with the Texas Ethics Commission.

"I was fulfilling a prior obligation on a contract that I had with TEDSI which expired in 2008," Lucio wrote in a statement to The Brownsville Herald Wednesday.

Lucio, D-Brownsville, did not say what he did for the firm, but in 2002 said that he would set up meetings and introduce the firm to officials in Brownsville.

In 2004 amid mounting criticism of possible conflicts of interest, Lucio told the Herald that he would phase out consulting for firms that do business in the Rio Grande Valley and the state.

Besides consulting for TEDSI, Lucio also was retained by CorPlan Corrections of Dallas, Management & Training Corp. of Utah, Aguirre Inc. of Dallas, and Dannenbaum Engineering Corp. of Houston.

At the start of 2005, Lucio severed ties with CorPlan, Aguirre, and MTC amid federal inquiries into the federal detention center in Willacy County. A Webb County commissioner and two former Willacy County commissioners were convicted of bribery. Companies involved in the project were not accused of any wrongdoing.

Lucio also stopped consulting for Dannenbaum, which he said he introduced to the Brownsville Navigation District. The BND paid Dannenbaum $15.4 million of $21.4 million spent toward developing a still non-existent international bridge at the Port of Brownsville.

But, he continued consulting for TEDSI until last year.

Lucio's prior financial statements show that in 2007 TEDSI paid him from $10,000 to $24,999 and $25,000 or more in prior years.

Lucio had been on CorPlan's payroll since 1999. Aguirre, MTC and Dannenbaum then contracted him, but in interviews prior to 2004 he wouldn't specifically say when or how much each paid him.

It was not until 2004 that Lucio started specifically listing the companies that retained him in his financial statements and these, coupled with prior interviews with the senator, reflect that the five firms paid him at least $340,000.

Embattled former Willacy County District Attorney Juan Angel Guerra obtained an indictment against Lucio last year, charging him with profiting from the elected office. Administrative Judge Manuel Bañales Jr. dismissed the indictment following arguments from Lucio's attorney, Michael R. Cowen, that the indictment was defective and that Guerra was seeking revenge against those who he perceived to be his political enemies.

Lucio's financial statement reflects that other sources of income last year were from his advertising and consulting firm, Rio Shelters Inc., and Lone Star Golf Carts and Utility Vehicles.

His statement also shows that he owes at least $110,000 combined to Compass Bank, International Bank of Commerce, First National Bank, Lone Star National Bank and Rio Bank.