Judge Floyd nixes BISD’s Nov. 5 board elections

On Monday a local judge cancelled the Beaumont Independent School District’s board elections, previously slated to take place on Nov. 5.

During an Oct. 21 hearing, BISD requested Judge Donald Floyd, 172^nd District Court, cancel the upcoming Nov. 5 election.

The district’s request came after the Ninth Court of Appeals found that Judge Floyd abused his discretion by sanctioning the election in violation of Texas state law

Judge Floyd’s order states that it is consistent with the Ninth Court’s ruling and the election should be rescheduled.

The judge’s ruling orders the parties to agree upon a hearing date by Oct. 28 concerning when the election should be rescheduled.

Case background

As previously reported, three BISD board candidates — Marcelino Rodriguez, Donna Jean Forgas and Linda Marie Wiltz Gilmor — filed a lawsuit April 30 in Jefferson County District Court against BISD and board members Woodrow Reece, Terry D. Williams, Janice Brassard, Gwen Ambres and Zenobia Randall Bush.

The Ninth Court issued its opinion on Oct. 17, concluding “the trial court abused its discretion by approving the Board’s order and by sanctioning an election that is designed to be conducted in violation of State laws.”

“The trial court’s order, as well as the trial court’s findings and conclusions that are inconsistent with this Court’s opinion are reversed, and the case is remanded to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with the Court’s opinion,” writes Justice Hollis Horton.

Immediately following the opinion, BISD field a Motion for Orders on Election, stating that the appeals court ruled that BISD cannot hold an election on a map that does not include at large-districts, but also reiterated that the district has no power to cancel the Nov. 5 election.

Even though early voting has already begun, a hearing on the motion was held Oct. 21.

The litigation stems from a complaint accusing the current board members of rigging the election process to enable them to keep their seats.

In their original complaint, the plaintiffs alleged the current board failed to properly re-divide the voting districts before an upcoming election. In turn, the plaintiffs have been unable to challenge the incumbents’ seats and will not be able to do so until 2015.

On Aug. 28 the plaintiffs amended their petition to seek an injunction to stop the board’s election set for Nov. 5 – which has been called illegal by the District Attorney’s Office.

Without the backing of the county, which is responsible for providing elections, on April 29 the board voted to approve the election, electing to use school funds to pay for the endeavor.

Following two hearings on the matter, Judge Floyd issued a ruling on Sept. 24, stating that the board’s decision to hold the election on Nov. 5 is proper.

The following day, the plaintiffs filed a notice of accelerated appeal, court papers say.

While arguing in a Sept. 11 injunction hearing, lead plaintiffs’ attorney Michael Truncale called the board’s election tactics something that Fidel Castro might do to stay in power.

Chad Dunn, one of the board’s attorneys, fired back, saying the plaintiffs were essentially plotting a Soviet-style installation of candidates instead of an election.

Case No. E194-295