Former mayor asks Texas City Commission to revisit mayor pro tem vote, citing charter and procedure concerns

Former mayor Dedrick Johnson urged the Texas City Commission to put an item on a future agenda to re-examine what he called an “invalid mayor pro tem vote,” saying he had raised procedural concerns in a private letter that received no acknowledgement.

Johnson told the commission he was not challenging the result but the process, saying the city charter and Robert’s Rules of Order must be followed. “I’m not standing here as a former mayor who’s expecting some sort of special treatment. I’m a taxpaying, law-abiding resident of the city of Texas City,” Johnson said, asking the commission to re-list the item in a way that “leaves no doubt that the city charter was followed.”

The former mayor said he had written the chair and received no confirmation that his concerns were received or would be reviewed, and warned that silence on a procedural question from an elected official raised concerns about how average citizens’ concerns would be treated.

Commissioner Brian Gutches (commissioner at large) told the meeting he supported airing the issue and said he had submitted a request to place it on the next agenda. Several other commissioners said they favored more transparent handling of procedural questions and live broadcasting of meetings to increase public access.

The commission did not take immediate formal action on Johnson’s request during the meeting; commissioners indicated at least one member intends to pursue placement of the item on a future agenda.