Misused public funds
County Commissioner David Stout spent over $126,000 on travel since FY2022 — more than four times the next-highest spender on the Commissioners Court
Confidence: Corroborated · 2 sourcesEl Paso County · Sep 22, 2026
Subject of this story
David Stout, El Paso County Commissioner, Precinct 2
What happened
An ABC-7/KVIA investigation of El Paso County Auditor's Office expense records (FY2022 through May 2026), obtained via a Texas Public Information Act request, found Commissioner David Stout's travel spending climbed from $13,425 in FY2022 to a peak of $37,725 in FY2024, including nine trips to Austin that year and a May 2025 trip to Maui, Hawaii for a conference. His total of over $126,000 exceeds the combined travel spending of every other member of the Commissioners Court. Stout, interviewed by KVIA, defended the spending as necessary advocacy and noted it represents about 0.02% of the county budget.
By the numbers (2)
● confirmed by a primary document · ○ reported
Figures
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David Stout spent more than $126,000 on travel, more than four times the amount spent by the next-highest spender on the court.$126K
1 source
- KVIA (ABC-7)
David Stout spent more than $126,000 on travel, more than four times the amount spent by the next-highest spender on the court
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David Stout's FY2024 travel spending peaked at $37,725, a year that included nine trips to Austin.$38K
1 source
- KVIA (ABC-7)
his FY2024 travel spending peaked at $37,725, a year that included nine trips to Austin alone.
Sources (2)
KVIA (ABC-7)David Stout spent more than $126,000 on travel, more than four times the amount spent by the next-highest spender on the court... his FY2024 travel spending peaked at $37,725, a year that included nine trips to Austin alone.
HoodlineThe figures come from nearly five years of travel and expense records obtained through a Texas Public Information Act request... Stout said travel helps county officials advocate for El Paso and bring back ideas from other jurisdictions.
Response
David Stout
Statement given
Contacted and responded — exact wording not on record.
What happened next (0)
No outcome recorded yet.