Uvalde CISD votes to not recall Javier Flores from UCAD board: not enough to prevent him from being ousted

Diana Olvedo-Karau apeaks to Uvalde CISD school board advising them to vote to remove Javier Flores from the UCAD board

   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

SWTJC President Dr. Hector Gonzales Picture credit: SWTJC

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.

  On June 15, 2023, the college received a letter from UCAD informing us that Mr. Javier Flores did not reside in Uvalde County as required by State Law. The letter also informed us about the recall process. ( I have attached the document for your reference). The college consulted with our attorneys and were advised to proceed with the request for a recall.
  At our July 27, 2023, board meeting, our board adopted a resolution calling for the recall of Mr. Javier Flores because he was out of compliance with Texas Property Tax Code Section 6.03, residency requirement.
  On July 31, 2023, we received communication from UCAD that the recall process had been initiated and each entity had until August 28, 2023, to submit a resolution on the recall of Mr. Javier Flores.
  On August 20, 2023, at our regular board meeting the board adopted a resolution recalling the 48 votes originally cast for Mr. Flores. A copy of the resolution was submitted to the UCAD on August 21, 2023.”

 

 

 

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