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In November 2024, Netflix aired “Lowrider Showrider,” which was Episode 7 of the second season of its popular series Tex Mex Motors.
During the episode, commercial real estate agent Juan Uribe and his wife Linda sell a 1997 Lamborghini SV to the show’s hosts for $43,000.
In Episode 8, the restored vehicle, repainted orange and decorated with regionally-inspired details, is unveiled before a crowd of onlookers at The Elmont Swim Club in Montecillo.
After rejecting the offer of one potential buyer, County Judge Ricardo Samaniego swoops in wearing a slick suit and purchases the car for $215,000 and then poses next to it while everyone applauds.
No one should doubt Samaniego can afford a $215,000 automobile.
He earned $105,080 when he assumed office on January 1, 2019, but on September 9 voted to increase his salary to $131,481 after less than nine months in office! On August 28, 2023 he voted to increase his salary a second time, to $152,700, such that he now earns 45.3% more than when he assumed office less than 7 years ago.
We have calculated that Samaniego has been paid $1,050,929 so far, plus benefits that apparently include luxury travel to Asia.
It is hard to watch our County Judge purchasing an extremely expensive Italian sports car while tens of thousands of El Pasoans struggle to pay the higher property tax he dumped on their laps, although the entire Netflix feature was 100% staged.
That’s right. The Uribes never owned a Lamborghini and Samaniego never purchased one, but at least our illustrious County Judge had his moment in the sun, when millions of viewers across the world got to watch him represent our county and the values of its people.
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