Item #30 on the agenda was the "Discussion/Action approval of purchase of seven (7) units for the Maverick County Sheriff's Department, paid with Confiscated Funds. Pct. 2." In an exclusive interview with Sheriff Tomas Herrera, he informed The News Gram and provided us with copies of Local Government Code Sec. 130.908 and a copy of the check used to purchase said vehicles dated August 15th, 2012. The purchase of the units comes six days prior to official canvassing of the election where he lost his bid for re-election to incoming Sheriff Tom Schmerber in a highly anticipated and highly debated run-off on July 31st. In a letter from Herrera’s attorney Claudio Heredia it states, "for county elected officials on their way out, remember that after the vote is officially canvassed in your unsuccessful re-election bid, Local Government Code Sec. 130.908 grants commissioner's court the right of approval over any expenditure in an amount set by them," (Assuming they have set such a threshold for that situation). In a conversation held with Commissioner José Luis Rosales, Herrera did indeed request approval at least twice, once in a letter dated August 21 and the other on the agenda of Thursday's meeting. On the letter dated August 21st, he formally requested the approval of six different petitions to be paid for with confiscated funds, five of which were approved: the removal of 4 A/C/ units replacing them with new 3-ton units at a cost of $9,500.00, (7) stainless steel showers at a cost of $2,690.00, $1,620.00 of carpeting, labor and installation of 2" water lines and a new toilet for the jail at a price of $9,872.00, and a $22,668.00 diesel engine generator. The only request denied was that for the patrol units. Schmerber who will run unopposed for the position of Maverick County Sheriff in the November general election, was on hand at Thursday's meeting to ask Commissioner's Court to deny the approval of these units. The vote was 0 for, 5 against. County Judge David Saucedo stated that since the purchase was not approved the Sheriff should make an effort to return the units. He also added that as member of Commissioner's Court, he is not in favor of this purchase and he needs to come to an agreement with the dealership in order to return these vehicles. According to Sheriff Herrera, the units were purchased on August 11th and delivered on August 15th, however, and plans to purchase were in progress before the run-off election in July.