Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Voters Approve Type C City; Elect New City Commissioners

By Staff Writer
VON ORMY-Von Ormy voters approved the change to a Type C City. The change removes the five member City Council and replaces it with a two member City Commission.  Sally Martinez was elected City Commissioner Place 1 and Alex Quintanilla was elected City Commissioner Place 2.  Sally Martinez is a current Von Ormy City Councilwoman and a former Mayor Pro-Tem who has served since 2009.  Alex Quintanilla is also a former Von Ormy Councilman and Mayor Pro-Tem.  Quintanilla currently serves as a Commissioner on Bexar County ESD No. 5.   
     The election was triggered by a petition containing signatures of 82.  Supporters of the petition told the Star that they are seeking to hold three members of the current city council  accountable for their recent criminal indictments and actions since the May 2015 election.  Councilwomen Jacqueline Goede, Verna Hernandez and Carmina Aguilar were indicted in May on charges of violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act.  The case is still pending in the 144th District Court with an upcoming hearing date of November 6, 2015.   In addition to the indictments, tensions have been ongoing on the City Council since the May election.  Among the biggest points of contention have been personnel matters, spending and attempts by Goede, Hernandez and Aguilar to strip Mayor Reyes of certain powers and the arrest of Councilwoman Verna Hernandez at a September council meeting. 

     The new City Commission will begin functioning following the canvassing of the election.  Mayor Trina Reyes told the Star, "We have a lot of healing to do in our city.  I hope we can move forward from this election in a productive manner, focusing on city issues and put these personal issues behind us."

Von Ormy Special Election (Nov 3, 2015) Vote Totals:

City of Von Ormy Prop 1 Type C City
FOR . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
AGAINST . . . . . . . 115
Over Votes . . . . . . . . .0  

Under Votes . . . . . . . . 6

City Commissioner, Place 1 CITY OF VON ORMY
Sally Ann Martinez . . . . . . . 134
Danisha M. Hernandez. . . . . . 25
Lillie Raelynn Goede. . . . . . . 49
              Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
             Under Votes . . . . . . . . 42

City Commissioner, Place 2 CITY OF VON ORMY
Alejandro Quintanilla . . . . . . 115
Sharon Rocamontes. . . . . . . . 77
            Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
           Under Votes . . . . . . . . 58

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