Caldwell County Judge responds to calls for his resignation amid investigation request
A grassroots organization, the Caldwell Data Center Action Team, is calling for the resignation of Caldwell County Judge Hoppy Hayden and requesting a state investigation. This follows a controversial land deal related to a potential data center, which the group claims has broken public trust due to alleged conflicts of interest and campaign contributions.
The Caldwell Data Center Action Team, a non-partisan grassroots organization, is demanding the resignation of Caldwell County Judge Hoppy Hayden and urging state officials to launch an independent investigation into his conduct. The group alleges that recent developments surrounding a potential data center land deal have eroded public trust and raised concerns about conflicts of interest.
The controversy stems from the firing of Assistant District Attorney Richard Sitton by Caldwell County District Attorney Fred Weber. Weber stated that a real estate transaction involving Sitton and Judge Hayden could create the appearance of impropriety and a potential conflict of interest, though he emphasized he lacked sufficient facts at this stage. The Caldwell Data Center Action Team claims to have uncovered that 83.1% of Judge Hayden's campaign contributions in February came from Brooks Willib, an individual who owns a company involved in buying and selling land for corporate developments.
CBS Austin independently verified through campaign finance filings that Brooks Willib contributed $17,000 to Judge Hayden's campaign. Judge Hayden, however, denies any wrongdoing, asserting that he followed the law by transparently disclosing the pre-sales agreement involving his property to a company not previously active in Caldwell County. He maintains he will not resign, stating that voters will ultimately decide his tenure. District Attorney Fred Weber has indicated he will look into the issue, acknowledging the public's desire for transparency.
The Caldwell Data Center Action Team argues that the situation is about more than just one land deal; it's about the community's ability to trust its local government and how such developments could impact property values and resources.