UPDATE: Texas LULAC - A Call to Void the Election of Deputy Director for Veterans Because the Elected Officer is Not a Vetran and Have the State Director to Fill the Vacancy with the Runner-up Who is a Veteran

The Editor: The LULAC Veterans demand immediate action regarding this agregious error.

Dear National President, Members of the National Executive Board, and National Legal Counsel:

I am writing to formally bring to your attention a matter of constitutional non-compliance that occurred during the recent 2026 Texas State Convention. It has been brought to light that the candidate elected to the position of Deputy Director for Veterans at the state convention is not a veteran.

Constitutional Foundation and Precedent

Please review the binding minutes and amendments officially adopted by the organization:

• National Convention Documentation: As verified in the official records from the LULAC National Convention held in Las Vegas, Nevada, detailed in image.png and image_2.png, the National Assembly formally adopted Amendment #3.
• The Veterans Requirement Mandate: Originally submitted by Council 688, Amendment #3 established a dedicated office for Veteran’s Affairs. Gabriel Rosales moved, and Richard Gonzales seconded, a floor amendment to strictly require that the office holder must be a veteran. The motion carried, and Emma Acosta and Jo Ann Dawson successfully moved to adopt the amendment as amended.
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Because the National Constitution and its ratified amendments serve as the supreme law of the League, all state and district units must strictly adhere to these qualifications. Per Article IX, Section 8(a)(1) of the 2012 LULAC Constitution.pdf, the State Director and the State Executive Board are strictly bound to uphold the National Constitution, its policies, and all resolutions duly passed. Electing a non-veteran to a veteran-specific directorship directly violates the intent, text, and spirit of this constitutional mandate.

Recommendations to Correct This Matter

To bring Texas LULAC back into immediate constitutional compliance, I submit the following formal recommendations for review by the National Executive Board and the National Legal Counsel:

1. Declare the Election Void: The National Legal Counsel should issue an immediate formal opinion declaring the election of the non-veteran candidate null and void due to a failure to meet basic constitutional eligibility qualifications.
2. Declare an Immediate Vacancy: In accordance with the National Legal Counsel's ruling, the National Executive Board should instruct the Texas State Director to officially declare a vacancy in the office of the Deputy Director for Veterans.
3. Appoint the Qualified Opposing Candidate: Per the vacancy provisions translated to the state level under Article VIII, Section 6(d) and Article IX, Section 6 of the 2012 LULAC Constitution.pdf, the vacancy must be filled by an eligible, active LULAC member in good standing. I recommend that the State Director immediately appoint the opposing candidate from the convention floor election, who is a fully qualified veteran candidate, subject to the official approval of the State Executive Board, to serve out the remainder of the term.
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We must protect the integrity of our Constitution and ensure that the veterans' positions within LULAC are held exclusively by those who have rightfully earned the title through service to our country.

Thank you for your prompt attention, leadership, and guidance on this critical governance matter. I look forward to your swift action to resolve this discrepancy.

Respectfully submitted,

David Contreras

Past LULAC National Historian

Chair - Harris County Hispanic Cultural Heritage Commission 

President - Latino Educational Archival Programs (LEAP)

ALMAAHH Founding Member

Dcontre575@aol.com

281-857-2766