(Ed.'s Note: Someone is getting creative out there. This graphic, based on real numbers, shows that JP 2-1 Linda Salazar has turned her court into a wedding mill over the last 15 years. While her collections lag behind the other two Brownsville JP.s, the number of wedding ceremonies performed by her at more than $200 a pop put at least $120,000 in her pocket each year. Combined with her $56,000 regular salary makes her the highest paid employee making more than district judges, the county judge or the commissioners.
Under Texas law, the only thing the county keeps is the $83 for the marriage license processed by the Cameron County Clerk's office. This indicates a sense of skewered public service. One of her challengers, Cyndi Hinojosa, has pledged to donate al wedding performed in her court Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to the county treasury. Click on graphic to enlarge.)