Things are getting ugly in Von Ormy as some residents try to force the mayor to resign.
The feud between the mayor of Von Ormy and three city councilmembers came to a head Wednesday night. Mayor Trina Reyes said she asked city marshals to escort councilmember Verna Hernandez out of the meeting because she was speaking out of turn, allegedly violating opening meeting laws.
Hernandez refused to go peacefully with the marshal, so the marshal arrested her, Reyes said.
It's now up to Bexar County District Attorny Nico LaHood to decide whether he will pursue charges against Hernandez.
"It is petty but when you're dealing with 2-year-olds, that's what you have to do," said Reyes of Hernandez' actions. "I need some civility, and if it means that you have to put the hammer down, then you need to put the hammer down."
The three women who oppose the mayor now, once encouraged her to run for mayor. One of those councilwomen, Jacqueline Goede, said that support ended when Reyes took office and started acting more like a dictator.
"She hits her gavel, and she says, 'Shut up,' and she says, 'You can't talk,'" Goede said.
The councilwomen accused the mayor of using opening meetings rules to silence them. Both side agree that city business has come to a halt because of the feuding. The councilwomen are forcing a vote in November to get rid of the mayor's position, dissolve the council and adopt a commissioner-style local government.
"I'd want her to resign," said Goede. "I think a lot of, most of our city, wants her to resign."
Saturday, Reyes' critics will rally to call for her to step down from office. Meanwhile, Reyes said she will suspend public meeting in Von Ormy due to "public safety issues," if she confirms that she has the legal authority to do so.
"Small town politics are probably the ugliest politics you'll ever enter into," Reyes said.
