### Activist Groups Discontent with Candidates for Baja California Search Commissioner
Following the announcement of the shortlist for the position of Search Commissioner in Baja California, several leaders of groups representing families of the disappeared voiced their objections. They argue that some nominees have questionable backgrounds and reputations.
The State Government’s General Secretariat revealed the shortlisted candidates: Miguel Alejandro Cabrera Medina, Teresa Ávila López, Gustavo Meza Kennedy, Gustavo Salai Peña Ortiz, and Jorge Alberto Aguirre Carbajal. The latter has faced resistance from some activist groups due to past accusations against him during his tenure in other governmental positions.
Jorge Alberto Aguirre Carbajal’s resume, available on the General Secretariat’s website, details his academic qualifications, including a Bachelor’s Degree in Law, a Master’s in Criminal Sciences and Criminal Policy, and a Doctorate in Human Rights. His professional history includes roles such as Public Prosecutor in Baja California, Coordinator of the Vehicle Theft Investigation Unit, and Director of the Organized Crime Prosecutor’s Office. Notably, from 2016 to 2019, he served as the Director General of the Criminal Investigation Police and the Secretary of Public Security in Tabasco.
However, the elephant in the room is Aguirre Carbajal’s controversial past. In 2017, the Superior Audit Office of the State (OSFE) flagged him for alleged misuse of public funds amounting to approximately five million pesos. This includes issues such as unaccounted advances to contractors and incorrect calculations for the payroll tax.
The OSFE’s report pointed to unpaid sums dating back to 2014, which had not been recovered. Contracts with companies like CONSTRUCOCONA S.A. de C.V. and Construcciones y Materiales del Puerto S.A. de C.V. were mentioned. Aguirre Carbajal’s failure to properly manage these resources supposedly resulted in a financial shortfall of over four million pesos.
Additionally, during the first half of 2017, an incorrect computation of the payroll tax resulted in a deficit of 725,531 pesos due to uncollected amounts intended for travel expenses, which violated state tax law.
This history and the unresolved issues surrounding Aguirre Carbajal’s tenure have raised alarms among advocacy groups. Angelica Ramírez, coordinator of the collective Una Nación BuscandoT, expressed concerns over Aguirre Carbajal’s candidacy, fearing that someone with allegations of fiscal mismanagement should not oversee such a crucial position.
The public and affected families can give their input on the candidates via the email [email protected] throughout the selection process. The candidates are currently undergoing interviews, after which the top three will be recommended to Governor Marina del Pilar Avila Olmeda for the final appointment.
For more details on the candidates’ credentials, visit [Baja California’s official site](https://www.bajacalifornia.gob.mx/sgg/TitularesComision).
### Additional Article:
**Controversy Surrounds Appointments in Baja California’s Public Security**
The challenges facing the appointment of the Search Commissioner in Baja California are not isolated. Similar issues of controversy and allegations of misconduct have surfaced in other areas of public service appointments in the region.
Recently, the appointment of a new official to the National Migration Institute (INM) in Baja California triggered a public outcry. The appointee has been previously accused of maltreating migrants. Human rights advocates demand transparency and accountability in such high-stakes positions, stressing that officials with blemished records should not be entrusted with roles critical to public welfare and justice.
These instances are part of broader concerns about the integrity and effectiveness of administrative procedures in Baja California. As the region continues to grapple with public safety and human rights issues, the need for diligent vetting and ethical governance remains paramount. Local advocacy groups and civil societies continue to push for reforms that will ensure only the most qualified and reputable individuals are placed in positions of authority.