Councilwoman calls governor’s remarks “shameful” after he said indecision in City Council led to the City’s current water crisis.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A sharp war of words has erupted between the governor’s office and Corpus Christi leaders over the city’s growing water concerns and whether the state could step in to take control.

During recent remarks, Greg Abbott criticized how the city handled funding meant to address its water supply challenges.

Abbott said the state provided hundreds of millions of dollars meant to help the Coastal Bend secure its water future. 

“We provided them with $750 million, three-quarters of a billion dollars in funding for them to address their water problem,” Abbott said. “You know what they did? They squandered it.”

But Corpus Christi City Councilwoman Carolyn Vaughn quickly pushed back, saying the governor’s claim is misleading.

“No Governor Abbott, you did not give us $750 million or $200 million,” Vaughn said. “We are having to pay that back.”

Abbott also warned the state could intervene if the city fails to secure enough water for residents.

“We can only give them a little time more before the state of Texas has to take over and micromanage that city and run that city to make sure every resident who goes to the water tap and turns it on they’re going to be getting water out of their faucets,” Abbott said.

Vaughn called the threat inappropriate and said the city has been actively working on solutions.

“Shame on him that a governor would come in and say you’re going to take over a city because of an inaction when we actually have had action,” she said.


Tensions Inside City Hall

Vaughn also placed blame closer to home, pointing to city leadership including Mayor Paulette Guajardo.

“Mayor Paulette Guajardo, the city manager and the previous council are the reason why we are where we are right now,” Vaughn said.

Guajardo rejected the criticism, saying the city has been working with state and federal partners to address long-term water supply challenges.

“Some have suggested that our water challenges are the result of a lack of leadership and I have to respectfully disagree,” Guajardo said. “Leadership means rolling up your sleeves and working with our state and federal partners and advancing real projects that bring water to our community.”


Legal Questions About a State Takeover

Meanwhile, State Representative Denise Villalobos said her office is reviewing whether the state actually has the authority to step in.

“From a legal standpoint, I don’t know how much the state is able to get involved until an emergency is called,” Villalobos said. “City Council has been doing everything they can within the water department to get as many projects rolling and off the burner as they possibly can.”


Water Projects in the Works

City leaders say multiple projects are underway to address future water shortages.

Councilman Gil Hernandez pointed to the western well fields, which are still awaiting state permits.

“It still has a higher TDS than we would like, but it’s just enough to hold us over until we can develop some of these other projects,” Hernandez said.

He also highlighted additional efforts, including the Evangeline groundwater project and wastewater reuse systems for major industries such as Valero and Flint Hills.

Councilman Roland Barrera said the city still has time to correct course.

“I would think that we still have the opportunity to solve the problems, but you’re going to have to have serious folks that are interested in solving problems instead of just trying to placate to an audience,” Barrera said.

With the Coastal Bend’s water future at stake, the political fight over responsibility and solutionsappears far from over.