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Commissioners pass edited rodeo resolution after debate over call for judge’s resignation
Summary
Harris County Commissioners Court adopted most of a resolution honoring the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo but removed a clause that had called for Judge Lina Hidalgo’s resignation; the edited measure passed 2–1 after debate about process and scope.
Harris County Commissioners Court on March 31 debated a resolution praising the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo that included language criticizing County Judge Lina Hidalgo and calling for her resignation and an apology. After discussion, the court voted to adopt the resolution with the clause calling for resignation and apology removed.
A lawmaker (S8) presented the resolution, citing economic impact figures including more than 1,800,000 attendees and an asserted $326,000,000 annual economic impact and praising the rodeo’s scholarship work. The resolution text as read included a whereas clause stating that Judge Hidalgo’s conduct “has embarrassed this commissioner's court” and “should be grounds for resignation and a bipartisan call for apologies.”
Other members pushed back on inserting a call for resignation into a county resolution. One commissioner (S3) referenced Texas Local Government Code Chapter 87 and said the court does not have the process authority to force or adjudicate resignations; that member urged adherence to legal process rather than symbolic calls for removal. The presiding official (S1) proposed adopting only the first four whereas clauses of the resolution and omitting the paragraph demanding resignation and apology.
The motion to adopt the edited resolution (first four whereas clauses, omitting the fifth) was made and seconded and the court recorded a vote of 2 ayes and 1 nay; the edited resolution passed. The transcript does not record names tied to individual recorded yes/no votes beyond the tallied result.
No formal disciplinary action against Judge Hidalgo was taken; court members who opposed including the resignation language said such matters are governed by statute or elections and not by a commissioners court resolution. The court concluded the resolutions block with photos of honorees and adjourned the session shortly before 10 a.m.
