Embattled Pasadena Community Relations Director Retires

PASADENA, TX -- A Pasadena city official who admitted under oath in a federal lawsuit in November to knowingly violating state ethics rules has retired.

Richard Scott, 78, who’d served as the city’s community relations director for nearly 10 years, retired effective Jan. 13.

Scott, who has a close friendship with Pasadena Mayor Johnny Isbell spanning 50 years, admitted to using city employees and resources to push forward Isbell’s redistricting plan to voters, which was later proved in a federal lawsuit to disenfranchise Latino voters.

In December, the Pasadena City Council called for a forensic audit of city finances, that was a result of Scott’s admission.

On Jan. 6, U.S. District Court Judge Lee H. Rosenthal issued a 113 -page ruling in the voting rights case filed against the city by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and referred to the elections in Pasadena as “racially polarized.”

“The effect was to dilute Latino voting strength. That effect was foreseeable and foreseen,” Rosenthal wrote in her decision.

Voters in Pasadena will vote to restore eight single member districts and do away with the two at-large positions, as well as cast ballots for a new mayor and and several council seats in the May elections.

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