2008 Woodie Awards
Dispute over voting system still unsettled
Lacy Cordell/Editor-in-Chief
Issue date: 4/6/06 Section: Front Page
The voting lawsuit filed against Amarillo College by two local men, Abel Bosquez and the Rev. V.P. Perry, still is up in the air.
Bosquez's and Perry's lawyer, J.E. Sauseda, made an announcement last week claiming to have settled with AC.
"The announcement by Amarillo attorney J.E. Sauseda about any settlement in the lawsuit concerning the Amarillo College Board of Regents election comes as a surprise to Amarillo College," said Ellen Robertson, director of communications in the college relations department, in a news release.
To settle without a public vote would be a violation of the Texas Open Meetings Act.
"The AC Board of Regents has discussed several ideas in regard to the pending lawsuit but has certainly not voted in closed session or in public session about any agreement," Robertson said.
"AC did advise its attorney, Bob Sanders (Sanders and Baker), to begin discussions on possible solutions with Mr. Sauseda but, at this point, that's all it is - a discussion," Robertson said.
The March 28 board meeting ended with a closed session discussing the status of the lawsuit.
According to Lori Merriman, executive secretary to the president, nothing was decided at the March 28 board of regents meeting and nothing has been discussed furthering the lawsuit.
"AC and its regents are certainly interested in making sure the taxpayers in our service area feel represented and continue to work on a viable solution for both sides," Robertson said.
The lawsuit concerns the way the regents are elected, which is by at-large voting rather than single-member districts.
The lawsuit alleges that the current voting system is unconstitutional.
"The allegations are that it unconstituationally dilutes the voting strength of the minority community," Sauceda said in the Feb. 9 issue of The Ranger.
The current election for the expired terms of regents was canceled as of the March 28 board meeting. Three spots were left open for election or re-election. Two members were running again.
"We only want regents who will do what is best for all of the students at Amarillo College and who are equally concerned about all of our campuses and all of our programs," said AC President Dr. Steven Jones in the Feb. 9 Ranger.
Bosquez's and Perry's lawyer, J.E. Sauseda, made an announcement last week claiming to have settled with AC.
"The announcement by Amarillo attorney J.E. Sauseda about any settlement in the lawsuit concerning the Amarillo College Board of Regents election comes as a surprise to Amarillo College," said Ellen Robertson, director of communications in the college relations department, in a news release.
To settle without a public vote would be a violation of the Texas Open Meetings Act.
"The AC Board of Regents has discussed several ideas in regard to the pending lawsuit but has certainly not voted in closed session or in public session about any agreement," Robertson said.
"AC did advise its attorney, Bob Sanders (Sanders and Baker), to begin discussions on possible solutions with Mr. Sauseda but, at this point, that's all it is - a discussion," Robertson said.
The March 28 board meeting ended with a closed session discussing the status of the lawsuit.
According to Lori Merriman, executive secretary to the president, nothing was decided at the March 28 board of regents meeting and nothing has been discussed furthering the lawsuit.
"AC and its regents are certainly interested in making sure the taxpayers in our service area feel represented and continue to work on a viable solution for both sides," Robertson said.
The lawsuit concerns the way the regents are elected, which is by at-large voting rather than single-member districts.
The lawsuit alleges that the current voting system is unconstitutional.
"The allegations are that it unconstituationally dilutes the voting strength of the minority community," Sauceda said in the Feb. 9 issue of The Ranger.
The current election for the expired terms of regents was canceled as of the March 28 board meeting. Three spots were left open for election or re-election. Two members were running again.
"We only want regents who will do what is best for all of the students at Amarillo College and who are equally concerned about all of our campuses and all of our programs," said AC President Dr. Steven Jones in the Feb. 9 Ranger.