Who is Lina Hidalgo? Texas County Judge Who Left a Meeting to Attend a Hans Zimmer Concert

Lina Hidalgo, the Harris County Judge from Texas, is back in the spotlight after she abruptly ended a budget meeting last month. Reports suggest that her decision to leave might have been planned, as messages between her and her chief of staff revealed that she had tickets to a Hans Zimmer concert that same evening.

Why Did Lina Hidalgo Leave the Meeting?

On September 9, Hidalgo walked out of a heated budget meeting after her proposal to fund childcare programs was rejected by the county commissioners.
Visibly upset, she expressed her disappointment before leaving the room, saying: “I don’t know what we’re doing here for not standing up for children. Shame on you.”

The meeting was discussing how to manage the county’s $275 million budget deficit. However, soon after she left, Hidalgo posted on social media about attending the Hans Zimmer concert, which began less than an hour later at Houston’s Toyota Center.

Messages Reveal Possible Pre-Planning

According to a Houston Chronicle report, text messages exchanged between Hidalgo and her chief of staff, Angelica Kaufman, showed that the judge may have planned to leave early.
In a message sent on September 8, Hidalgo mentioned: “A friend wants us to get there by 6:30 p.m. if possible because he wants to buy some merch.”

The publication noted that Hidalgo originally intended to leave by 5:45 p.m., well before the meeting’s end. These details have sparked debate about whether her early departure was spontaneous or premeditated.

Who is Lina Hidalgo?

Born in Colombia, Lina Hidalgo moved to the United States at age five with her family to escape violence in Bogotá. Her parents worked hard to build a new life, and Hidalgo excelled academically, eventually earning a degree from Stanford University.

In 2018, she made history by becoming the first woman and the first Latina elected as Harris County Judge, according to the Carnegie Foundation and JFK Presidential Library. Her platform focused on childcare, transparency, and government accountability, helping her connect with a diverse voter base.

Her Role as Harris County Judge

Despite the title, the Harris County Judge position is not a judicial role. Instead, Hidalgo serves as the top executive officer of the county, managing payroll for over 18,000 employees and overseeing emergency management operations.
Her leadership style has been praised for being progressive and community-focused, but critics say her recent actions show a lack of professionalism.

Public Reaction

The news about Hidalgo leaving a crucial budget meeting for a concert drew mixed reactions. Supporters defended her right to personal time, while others argued that it showed poor judgment for someone in such a powerful public position.

Regardless of the controversy, Lina Hidalgo remains one of the most talked-about political figures in Texas, known for breaking barriers and challenging traditional political norms.