BYE, BYE, SAN BENE COMMISH CAROL LYNN SANCHEZ BYE, BYE

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

The San Benito City Commission voted to remove one of their own after she was found to have reported that she no longer lived in the city, contrary to the city charter residency requirements.

Carol Lynn Sanchez was removed from the city commission during Tuesday's meeting.

Commissioners say Sanchez was removed because she filed her campaign report in her run for Texas House of Representative District 37 and said she no longer lived within San Benito city limits and listed a Harlingen address as her residence.

“I only have about four weeks left [on my term], so I find it quite a waste of tax dollars to be focusing on something so ridiculous like this when there are so many issues in the city that should actually be addressed,” Sanchez said after the meeting.

In her second financial report Sanchez used the Harlingen address that falls in District 37. But the Texas Election Code  states that: "He or she must have been a resident of the state for two years immediately preceding election, and for one year immediately preceding election must have been a resident of the district from which he or she was chosen."

You've got hand it to Sanchez for having so much chutzpah. When she announced for office December 2023, myRGV's Fernando del Valle reported:

“As a lifelong resident of the district, I’ve seen firsthand the struggles our communities have faced over the years,” Sanchez, an attorney, said in a campaign announcement."

There are other curiouser discrepancies, too. In her January report, she lists a political "office held" as a San Antonio (?) city commissioner, Place 4.

One month later, she lists "none" held.

Sanchez refused to step down during the meeting, telling her colleagues they could remove her if they wanted. Sanchez was unhappy with the decision, saying the commission should be focusing on other, more important issues.