By John W. Gonzalez
Bexar County Democratic Party leaders voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to remove ailing & embattled Chairman Dan Ramos for misconduct and neglect of duty. The 104-5 vote by the partys executive committee came despite a desperate attempt by Ramos to call off the meeting.
Ramos who has ignored calls for his resignation since March didnt attend or acknowledge the meeting and couldnt be reached for comment. He has called the removal effort invalid as it was conducted under Roberts Rules of Order in the absence of any provisions in state or party rules to oust a county chairman.
Members leaped to their feet and cheered when they achieved a quorum sufficient to conduct the removal vote. None of the five members who cast nay votes spoke in Ramos defense. Some had concerns about the legality of the removal process.
A May 17 meeting was set to choose a new county chairman.
On April 16 a trial committee heard evidence against Ramos and unanimously agreed he was guilty of all 10 charges lodged against him including allegations that he made bigoted comments about gay people and failed to perform his duties.
Late last week an email was sent to precinct chairs by a Ramos ally saying the meeting was postponed. But other party officials instructed members to ignore that and the meeting drew a larger-than-usual turnout.
Ramos elected last spring to a two-year term took charge in the wake of an embezzlement scandal that left the party deep in debt owing Bexar County nearly $200000 for 2008 election expenses and resulted in the pending theft
indictment of the partys former treasurer.
Then Ramos irked party members while attempting to revamp the leadership with members claiming he was ignoring party rules in his drive to fill vacant precinct chairs. As a result several meetings this year were contentious with feuding factions sometimes meeting simultaneously at separate locations.
Acrimony increased in March after Ramos made numerous comments offending gays and other party members who Ramos blamed for ignoring previous malfeasance that he said drained party coffers.
Ramos has vowed to block the ouster vote with litigation. Seriously ill with kidney problems he was hospitalized late last month amid his attempts to find support for a court fight.
Its possible Ramos could litigate his ouster but those seeking to remove him have another option pending legislation.
A bill approved by the Texas House Elections Committee would allow a state party executive committee to remove an incompetent county chair but unless it has overwhelming approval it would not take effect until September. Ramos term ends in spring 2012.
Also Tuesday the state House unanimously approved a bill by Rep. Joe Farias D-San Antonio that was spawned by the Bexar Democrats turmoil.
It would let county election officials petition state election officials for direct reimbursement of primary election costs rather than routing the funds through the party.
