WAR CONTINUES OVER SAN BENE CHARTER AMENDMENTS ELECTION

JULIAN RIOS, WHO TOLD THE VISITNG JUDGE THAT HE HAD NOT SEEN THE PROPOSITIONS, POSTED THIS PRIOR TO EARLY VOTING SO HE OBVIOUSLY KNEW WHAT WAS IN THE SAN BENITO CHARTER  AMENDMENTS. PERJURY ANYONE? 

According to San Benito's city charter, a petition to recall an elected official must be signed by at least 35 percent or 500 voters – whichever is greater – who actually voted in the election of the elected official in question.

San Benito City Manager Fred Sandoval said due to the charter, the petitions to recall the mayor and city commissioners would each need a little over 700 signatures.

Sandoval says when the recall petitions were submitted, there were only about 300 signatures collected for each candidate.

The city says because the required number of signatures did not meet the requirement, the signatures were not verified individually.

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

The decision to void was made Monday  – November 4 – by visiting judge Michael Garcia in Cameron County after San Benito city leaders proposed adding five amendments to their city charter on the Nov. 5 ballot.

The amendments on the ballot included city charter changes such as requiring all city commissioners to reside within city limits, and provide process and reasons for removal of municipal judges.

San Benito resident, and former EDC board member, Julian Rios (above) filed a lawsuit s over the amendments. The lawsuit alleged the city violated the Texas Open Meetings Act when the proposed charter amendments were placed on the ballot. Garcia voided the election results the day before the general election  after the early votes had been cast. 

The votes cast before the election was voided are listed below: