by Michael Robinson| Uvalde Hesperian
Top photo by Robinson
Uvalde CISD voted to approve a “No” vote on recalling Uvalde County Appraisal District Board Member Javier Flores, The district holds 212 votes and all of those votes go towards keeping Flores on the UCAD board.
While the Uvalde School District’s controls 212 votes as one of the larger property taxing entities in the county, the Uvalde CISD School Board’s vote to not remove Javier Valdez from the UCASD board is not sufficient to keep Flores from being ousted from his seat on the UCAD board.
Flores also happens to be an elected member of the Uvalde CISD School Board.
Diana Olvedo-Karau addressed the school board during the public comments portion of the district’s meeting. “Javier Flores has been on the UCAD appraisal district for 11 years snd he doesn’t live in the County. It is your responsibility to take a vote to remove Mr. Flores from this board,” she said.
Flores spoke on the issue and said as a Batesville resident, his removal would mean Batesville would be taxed without having representation.
He also said he has been serving on the UCAD board for years and he said “Nobody has had a problem with it until now. “
Flores stated that he contacted the Texas State Comptroller’s office and asked if any Uvalde County UCAD entities had contacted them requesting guidance on the matter? Flores indicated he was told none had contacted them.
He did mention he spoke to a person named “April “ and he claimed upon explaining the UCAD recall issue. “She agrees with me,” Flores said.
Uvalde CISD school board president Luis Fernandez recommended not voting to remove Flores as it would go against the MALDEF resolution.
UCISD board member Anabel White said It seems like “Batesville always gets the shaft. “
Flores abstained from the vote.
Overview of the the UCAD recall process concerning Javier Flores
Roberto Valdez, the Chief Appraiser – Tax Assessor/Collector said, “The recall process was initiated by SWTJC on or about July 2th, when they passed a resolution calling for Mr. Javier Flores recall.
Although Mr. Flores is an elected official to UCISD, he doesn’t comply with the residency requirements of the Texas Property Tax Code to serve on the UCAD Board.
Mr. Flores is a resident of Zavala County and not Uvalde County, therefore he is not in compliance with TPTC.
Southwest Texas Junior College President Dr. Hector Gonzales provided the following to the Uvalde Hesperian: “Here is an overview of the recall.
UCAD Vote Totals
Vote Tally on the Recall of UCAD Board Member Javier Flores
For the Recall Against the Recall
Uvalde CISD 212
Uvalde County 331
SWTJC 48
Knippa ISD 50
Nueces Canyon No action No action
(Nueces Canyon as part of the North Western part of Uvalde County has 28 UCAD Votes, The entity took no action. )
Total votes in for the removal of Javier Flores from the UCAD board: 429 votes
Total votes against the removal of Javier Flores from the UCAD board: 212 votes