The Editor: The Editor thanks
David Contreras for writing the communique to the LULAC National Board to
correct an error in Texas LULAC having elected a non-veteran person to the
position of Deputy Director of Veterans Affairs.
The election of the non-veteran
happened in from of over 200 Texas LULAC Delegates who were voting for state
officers at its meeting in San Antonio. The presiding judge noted that he saw
no entry of candidates for the position of Veterans Affairs and told the
Assembly that if they were running for the position to get their papers in
orders and run down to the elections room and get their name into the computer
system to be ready for the elections coming up in a couple of hours. When the
nominees were given their time to make their speeches, two persons were called
out as candidate for the post of Veterans Affairs, Graciela Villarreal and Brad
Veloz. Villarreal was not a veteran and she stated that fact, but came from a
family of veterans. Veloz was a veteran and stated that fact. Speeches finished
and off to voting goes Texas LULAC who voted for Villarreal with 126 votes and
Veloz with 86 votes.
The Veterans Affairs position
was passed as an amendment to the LULAC Constitution at National LULAC in Las
Vegas in 2024. The original amendment lacked being a veteran as a criterion for
serving on the post. Gabriel Rosales and Richard Gonzalez made the motion that
made being a veteran a requirement to serve in the position.
The outcome of voting for an
ineligible person was a comedy of errors and LULAC Veterans and LULACers in
general thank David Contreras for pointing out the error to the LULAC Board and
President Roman Palomares for rectifying the matter post haste.
Congratulations to Brad Veloz,
the Deputy Director for Veterans Affairs for Texas LULAC.
The Letter of President Roman Contreras
Mr. Contreras,
After reviewing the election results and the eligibility requirements governing service in positions designated exclusively for veterans, it has been determined that the individual elected to the office does not meet the required qualifications to hold the position.
The LULAC Constitution, Bylaws, and governing principles require that all candidates satisfy the eligibility requirements for the office they seek at the time of election and throughout their term of service. Eligibility is not discretionary and cannot be waived after an election has occurred.
Because the office in question is reserved exclusively for veterans, an individual who is not a veteran is ineligible to be elected or serve in that position. Consequently, the election of the ineligible candidate is null and void and shall be treated as though the individual was never qualified to assume the office.
To preserve the integrity of the election process and give effect to the votes cast by the membership, the office shall be awarded to the eligible candidate who received the next highest number of votes. Therefore, the runner-up, having met all eligibility requirements and received the next highest vote total, is hereby declared elected to the position and shall assume the office immediately, subject to any applicable installation or certification requirements.
This determination is made pursuant to the National President's responsibility to ensure compliance with the LULAC Constitution, Bylaws, policies, and all eligibility requirements governing elected and appointed positions within the organization. Failure to enforce these requirements would undermine the integrity of the election process and create an inequitable result for qualified candidates and voting members.
Accordingly, the ineligible individual is removed from the position effective immediately, and the eligible runner-up is recognized as the duly elected officeholder for the remainder of the term.
The Texas State Director and Texas Legal Advisor are copied on this notice so they can take the appropriate action as outlined above.
Respectfully,
Roman R Palomares
National President
682.429.7363 | rpalomares@lulac.org
Washington, D.C.
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