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Public comment day turns into series of attacks and defenses over county politics
Summary
Dozens of residents used public comment time to criticize and defend county commissioners and County Judge Barbara Canales, with speakers accusing commissioners of politicizing county business and others urging civility and deference to elections.
A large portion of the Aug. 5 public-comment period was devoted to residents criticizing and defending actions by members of the Commissioners Court concerning County Judge Barbara Canales and recent political disputes.
Several speakers accused unnamed commissioners of trying to strip the judge of authority for political reasons and urged the court to let the electorate decide officeholders. "You want to remove her from her position? If you are what you say you are because this is all about elections," said Susie Luna Saldana, a resident who described herself as upset about what she called repeated attacks on the judge. Other speakers — including small-business owners and veterans — echoed concerns that county business and the public's trust could be harmed by public infighting.
Some speakers urged patience with legal and administrative processes and encouraged voters to address grievances at the ballot box rather than through procedural maneuvers in commissioners court. Others asked the court to work together and prioritize ongoing county initiatives such as mental-health programming and capital projects.
Why it matters: Public comment reflected a high level of community interest in county political dynamics and a concern that internal disputes could distract from policy priorities including veteran services and mental-health initiatives.
What to expect: The exchanges were public comment; commissioners did not take immediate formal action on the disputes during the meeting. Several commissioners responded briefly from the dais to reiterate they would follow law and established procedures and to emphasize the court's agenda of budget and ARPA work.
