McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — After the Texas Supreme Court on Friday denied an appeal by a Laredo city councilwoman found guilty of election fraud, the City Council immediately scheduled her opponent to be sworn in, Border Report has learned.
The state’s high court on Friday denied Daisy Campos Rodriguez’s petition for review, according to the court’s website. The court also denied her right to file a motion for a rehearing.
This in effect ends her appeals process after a lower court a year ago identified illegal votes cast for her in the election for the Laredo City Council District 2 seat.
Campos Rodriguez has occupied the seat for a year despite a Jan. 27, 2023, ruling by a trial judge for the 49th District Court in Webb County, that she was not the actual winner.
On Feb. 2, 2023, a judge ruled that her opponent, Ricardo “Richie” Rangel Jr., garnered a majority of votes and ordered him sworn in.
But Campos Rodriguez contested the ruling and appealed through multiple courts.
The 4th Court of Appeals on Nov. 13, affirmed the lower court’s ruling, but Campos Rodriguez refused to give up her seat despite criticism from other council members and the public for the prolonged dispute.
During a Dec. 4 city council meeting, she vowed to “continue being the council member until I exhaust all options.”
But after the Texas Supreme Court on Friday refused to hear her case, the Laredo City Council scheduled an emergency swearing-in of Rangel for 4 p.m. at City Hall, District 3 Council Member Melissa Cigarroa told Border Report.
Rangel posted on Facebook an announcement of his swearing-in ceremony, writing: “I am excited to share this special moment with all of you. Your support means the world to me, and I can’t wait to embark on this new chapter together.
He also said, “I want to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who stood by me throughout this journey. I am truly humbled by the support. I am now fully prepared and enthusiastic to serve district 2 to the best of my abilities.”
In December, the Laredo City Council passed a resolution that would allow the governmental body to remove from office in the future any members found guilty of election fraud. However, this did not pertain to Campos-Rodriguez because her case was already filed and appealed.
According to a court brief filed with the Texas Supreme Court, since the January 2023 trial, Campos Rodriguez has attended 24 meetings as a sitting city council member and voted on over 300 matters affecting Laredo.
Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.
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