In the fall of 2022, The Hawk’s Eye obtained public records and contemporaneous statements revealing a connection between an incumbent public official and a local media outlet operating in Hays and Caldwell counties. The outlet, the Caldwell/Hays Examiner, presents itself as a publication focused on justice, equity, and civic participation, regularly reporting on public affairs and encouraging reader involvement in the public-policy process.

At the time, the information did not point to criminal wrongdoing. What it did raise were questions of proximity, disclosure, and appearance—questions that matter in local government, particularly when an elected official holds both political power and private business interests. Rather than dissipate over time, those questions deepened as additional records surfaced and public responses hardened.

A Public Rebuke Instead of Public Answers

On December 7, 2025, Ruben Becerra, the incumbent Hays County Judge and a candidate for a third term, posted a statement on his personal Facebook page attacking our reporting. He labeled it “false,” “misleading,” “clickbait,” and “tabloid,” and urged his followers not to engage with or read what we publish. He framed interaction with our reporting as financially benefiting us and explicitly instructed readers to disengage.

The post did not cite specific inaccuracies, nor did it address any of the records previously reported. Instead, it discouraged public engagement altogether. For a sitting county judge—whose role includes presiding over county government and safeguarding constitutional principles—the decision to urge people not to read a news outlet, rather than rebut the facts, was notable.

In the comments that followed, individuals raised a specific concern that the Caldwell/Hays Examiner leased office space connected to Judge Becerra. In response, Becerra denied that the Examiner was his tenant. That denial, however, does not resolve the issue raised by the public record.

What the Examiner Disclosed Before the Dispute

On or about October 28, 2022, long before the 2025 Facebook post, the Caldwell/Hays Examiner addressed questions about its office space directly. In a written comment, the outlet explained that it “sublease[s] an office from Specialized Medical Solutions, via Monica Becerra,” clarifying that while the space was not located inside another office, rent was being paid under that arrangement.

That statement has never been withdrawn or corrected. Its significance lies in the identity of the landlord entity, which is not independent of county politics but instead tied through public records to the county judge himself.

Specialized Medical Solutions and a Decade of Filings

Public records filed in Bexar County show that in 2013, Ruben Becerra executed an assumed-name certificate to conduct business under the name Specialized Medical Solutions. The document bears his signature and lists him as residing at the business address in San Antonio. Although the form does not list a typed execution date, the notary’s commission—expiring in June 2013—places the filing squarely in that year.

Later in 2013, Mondev Medical Solutions, LLC was formed with the Texas Secretary of State. The certificate of formation lists only one individual, Ruben Becerra. That same entity filed an assumed-name certificate on November 20, 2013, to operate as Specialized Medical Solutions.

From 2013 forward, every Public Information Report filed for the entity lists Becerra in formal roles, including director and manager. In August 2024, the assumed-name certificate was refiled not through a new document, but by modifying the original 2013 form—crossing out the date while retaining Becerra’s signature.

Judge Becerra’s personal financial statements filed with the Hays County Clerk list Specialized Medical Solutions as occupational income. Although those disclosures characterize the income as belonging to his spouse, the same state filings repeatedly identify Becerra himself as the principal of the entity.

Against that background, the Examiner’s acknowledgment that it subleased office space from Specialized Medical Solutions via Monica Becerra becomes more than incidental. It situates a local news outlet inside a financial arrangement connected, at minimum, to the household of the sitting county judge it covers.

A New Nonprofit, Then New LLCs

In early 2025, additional entities entered the picture. On February 4, 2025, Texas Secretary of State records show the formation of Empower Hays, a domestic nonprofit corporation. The registered agent is listed as Monica Becerra, and the organization uses a San Marcos address that Ruben and Monica Becerra have publicly associated with themselves.

State filings list Ruben Becerra, Monica Becerra, and Christian Becerra in management roles. The nonprofit describes its purpose as charitable work and coordination with other nonprofit organizations. Despite those roles, Empower Hays does not appear on Judge Becerra’s 2025 personal financial statement, filed May 15, 2025.

What appears to have not been previously discussed publicly is the existence of two separate limited liability companies associated with Monica Laura Becerra that remain active under Texas law. Texas Secretary of State records show that 92 Queen Anne, LLC and Meerhuis, LLC were both formed on May 11, 2018. In each filing, Monica Laura Becerra is listed as the registered agent, while management roles are assigned to other individuals. Both entities list a San Marcos address associated with her and are currently listed as “in existence.”

Being named as a registered agent does not, by itself, establish ownership or create a disclosure requirement on a personal financial statement. However, neither entity appears on Judge Becerra’s personal financial disclosures, and their existence adds to a broader set of business and nonprofit entities connected to the same household that are not fully explained in the public record.

The Courthouse Car Show and Official Authority

Those concerns intensified on March 30, 2025, when a vintage car show—branded “Classic Rides on El Camino Real”—was held at the Hays County Historic Courthouse. The event was organized by Empower Hays, a nonprofit that had existed for only weeks.

Public records show that Empower Hays’ directors at the time included Ruben, Monica and Christian Becerra. The use agreement authorizing the event on courthouse property was signed by Judge Becerra in his official capacity as county judge. The overlap was direct. A county judge approving use of county property for an event organized by a nonprofit he has association.

Public-records requests further complicated the picture. A January 2025 request returned no responsive documents related to the car show. After the event occurred, a subsequent request produced signed use agreements and licensing paperwork. Whether records were withheld or did not exist at the time remains unresolved.

Financial questions followed. Event registration fees, vendor payments, and swap-meet proceeds were directed not to Empower Hays, but to “Hays Classic Rides” or an individual named Derek Ortiz. Searches of Texas business and nonprofit records do not show a registered entity under that name associated with the event, nor does Ortiz appear in Empower Hays filings.

Adding another layer, an assumed-name certificate for “Classic Cars of Hays County” was filed in February 2024 by Cristian Becerra, further entwining private family business interests with an event conducted on county property.

Transparency Is the Issue

This reporting does not allege criminal conduct. It does not assert that any business or nonprofit lacks the right to exist or operate. What it documents—through filings, timelines, and public statements—is a pattern of overlapping roles and incomplete disclosure that the public has a right to understand.

When those questions are raised, the response matters. In this case, the response was not clarification, documentation, or engagement. It was dismissal and discouragement. Calling reporting “clickbait” does not change state filings. Urging the public not to read does not resolve unanswered questions. In local government, trust is built through transparency, not silence—and through engagement, not avoidance.

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Disclaimer

The content provided in this publication is for educational and informational purposes only. The Hawk’s Eye – Consulting & News strives to deliver accurate and impactful stories. However, readers are advised to seek professional legal counsel and guidance for their specific legal inquiries and concerns. The publication does not assume any responsibility for actions taken by individuals based on the information presented. 

Additionally, while every effort is made to ensure the reliability of the information, the publication does not warrant the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the content. Readers are encouraged to verify any legal information with official sources and to use their discretion when interpreting and applying the information provided.

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