Resident urges Uvalde County court to address ethical questions about local officials

Diana Oladocuru told the Uvalde County Commissioners Court that several recent decisions, while not illegal, raise ethical concerns and undermine public confidence. "Are they ethical? Do they have integrity?" she asked, listing incidents involving elected and appointed officials.

Oladocuru said County Commissioner Mariano Vargas moved from Precinct 2 to Precinct 1 years ago and that a subsequent redistricting created a small "nook" to keep another commissioner in Precinct 2. She also alleged County Attorney John Dodson no longer lives in Uvalde County and questioned whether that affects his ability to serve. Finally, she said Commissioner Yackel announced a run for county judge in November 2024 but remains in his commissioner seat and has not stepped down.

Oladocuru urged County Judge Jerry Bates to "please consider appointing someone to fill the county commissioner precinct 2 seat so that Mister Yackel can step down," saying the holdover practice may be legal but is ethically questionable.

Court members did not take formal action in response to the comments during the public-comment period. The transcript shows no immediate investigation, ethics referral, or motion to require a vacancy appointment; Oladocuru's remarks were entered into the record as public comment.

The matter raised in public comment involves named local officials but no formal charges or legal findings were presented at the meeting. Any change in officeholding, appointment authority, or eligibility would be governed by applicable state statutes and local rules; Oladocuru herself acknowledged that "nobody's doing anything illegal," framing her comments as a call for ethics and transparency rather than a criminal allegation.

The court proceeded to other agenda items after taking Oladocuru's comments; there was no vote or staff directive recorded in the transcript to pursue an ethics investigation or to act on her appointment request.