Zavaletta/Valadez OUT, Vasquez/Farias IN

As detailed in the Herald earlier, the Temporary Injunction on behalf of Emmanuel Vasquez against PUB Commissioner Sanchez, Mayor Ahumada & then-Commissioner Zavaletta was heard today in the 103rd District Court.

Be sure to check Emma Perez-Trevino's update, but in a nutshell, here's what happened:

• 103rd District Court Judge Janet Leal validated the current PUB Board composition as follows: Chairman Sanchez, Mayor Ahumada, Robert Guerra, Al Villarreal, Emmanuel Vasquez, and newly-appointed Arturo Farias.


• Dr. Joe Zavaletta, upon advice of his attorney, agreed to RELINQUISH claim to any extension of PUB board service in return for the mutually-agreed-upon stipulations that he be "non-suited with prejudice", and that he acted in good faith on advice of PUB "legal counsel", particularly in the illegal meeting of October 18, 2007.


• Valadez essentially terminated his representation by his original attorney and requested that he be included in representation "on an emergency basis only" by the attorney representing Chairman Sanchez and Mayor Ahumada.


• The Temporary Restraining Order on execution of any documents or contracts authorized, discussed, or voted on during the 10/18/07 meeting was EXTENDED FOR TWO WEEKS. A hearing for declaratory judgment was re-set and scheduled for 9:00AM Wednesday, November 21, 2007 (the day before Thanksgiving).

This writer sees it as a victory for the rule of LAW, the citizens of Brownsville and the ratepayers of PUB, albeit it a costly one for all the above parties.