March 20, 2004
Hocutt Veto Number 14
In a rut that has become so routine Colleyville's
Mayor apparently no longer bothers to even date his veto
letters, Mayor Joe Hocutt vetoed the appointments to the
Planning and Zoning Commission for the 14th time.
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vetoes by Mayor Hocutt resulted in three of the P&Z
Commissioners, Bud Sellers, Bob Culley and Mark Jones
continuing to occupy seats that were scheduled for
reappointment in 2003 by city charter. Sellers and
Culley were later removed on a 4 to 1 vote (Ginny Tigue
dissenting) from the commission because they were in
violation of attendance requirements.
The current veto of Mayor
Hocutt results in Mark Jones, a candidate to replace Ginny
Tigue on city council, remaining in a P&Z seat more
than 7 months after Hocutt vetoed the first appointments
in September 2003. |
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Mayor Joe Hocutt's veto
results in Mark Jones, candidate for council, ability to
remain in a P&Z seat that was scheduled for
reappointment in September 2003. Jones remains on
the commission as Council members Mark Skinner and Ginny
Tigue continue to vote against overturning the mayor's
veto.
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Mark Jones is running for
Ginny Tigue's seat. Tigue steadfastly refused any
compromise on veto replacements for the P&Z that did
not include Jones remaining on P&Z.. Jones
started running political ads in early March touting his
service on P&Z and Colleyville Chamber connections.
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LNO has learned that, Luann
Edwards, appointed by the majority of city council but then
vetoed by Mayor Hocutt, received notice of the 13th veto by copy
of a form letter without the benefit of a date, Click
Here to see letter. LNO has also learned that, at minimum,
one council member received the 14th veto on the same form
letter without a date. The city charter requires the mayor
to veto within seven days of passage by city council.
While the ongoing vetoes have set a precedence in city
government because no Colleyville mayor in history has used a
veto against appointees, the concept of sending an undated form
letter has further irked some Colleyville residents and council
members.
Jones is being challenged for
Place 5, currently held by Ginny Tigue, by Tom Hart, a former
P&Z Chairman and one of the three appointees continually
vetoed by Hocutt.
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