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Her second term barely underway, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said on Wednesday that she was taking a personal leave of absence to tend to her ill grandfather in Colombia, Houston-based media outlets reported.
Houston CBS affiliate KHOU reported that it’s unknown as to how long Hidalgo, a Democrat, will be out of the country while Houston NBC affiliate KPRC reported that her grandfather is in seriously declining health, with both stations citing her office.
Hidalgo’s absence takes her away from the first Harris County Commissioners Court meeting of the year, which is slated for Tuesday.
“I wish Judge Hidalgo the best with everything as she deals with family issues,” Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia said in a tweet. "As I’ve told every elected leader I’ve served with and anyone working in any of the organizations I’ve led – family comes first. I wish the judge and her family my best, and they are in my prayers.”
Citing the county judge’s deputy chief of staff, Chris Chu de Leon, Houston Public Media (HPM) reported that she might do some county-related work while abroad.
“She wants to be there in case anything were to happen there,” Chu de Leon told the National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate.
Chu de Leon added there’s a small chance the 31-year-old Hidalgo could attend any meetings virtually.
The announcement came three days after the investiture of new and re-elected county officials, including Hidalgo, at Houston’s NRG Center.
Hidalgo, the first woman and first Latina to serve as the executive of Texas’ largest county, earned reelection by narrowly defeating Republican challenger Alexandra del Moral Mealer in the November 2022 general election.
She oversees a court that counts two women as members for the first time in its history, with Lesley Briones having been sworn in as Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner, Houston ABC affiliate KTRK reported.