On Tuesday, however, Molina and all other council members were in attendance.<\/p>\n
Taft City Council tackles stacked agenda at first meeting with full council<\/p>\n
The first vote of the night was to fill the vacant Ward 1 council seat. The position has been open since Mayor Elida Castillo was sworn in in November. Four candidates applied for the position, but only one attended Tuesday\u2019s meeting.<\/p>\n
Lucy Lopez, a lifelong Taft resident and former council member, spoke about the need for unity on the council and said she admired the current council\u2019s emphasis on transparency. With a motion from Molina, Lopez was unanimously appointed and sworn in.<\/p>\n
Lopez will hold the position until the Nov. 3 election.<\/p>\n
Following that vote, the council approved Epimenio Ysassi as the city\u2019s new legal counsel. The city was previously represented by Thomas Gwodsz before Scott Tschirhart represented Castillo, Molina, Mayor Pro Tem Esmeralda \u201cMimi\u201d Cruz and Alderwoman Mariah Moreno amid the lawsuit filed by City Manager Ryan Smith.<\/p>\n
![\"TAFT](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769602747_470_.jpeg\")
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Adam Beam<\/p>\n
The City of Taft’s new legal representation and attorney, Epimenio Ysassi.<\/p>\n
Other agenda items approved included rescinding the current personnel manual to allow for public hearings to draft a new version, as well as plans for future amendments to the city\u2019s fiscal year budget.<\/p>\n
Regarding Smith, who was not present at Tuesday\u2019s meeting, the council tabled an item that would have rescinded all prior ordinances or resolutions delegating powers to the city manager and reverted those powers back to the mayor and council. The item was tabled to allow Ysassi time to review it.<\/p>\n
However, the council did vote to dismiss Smith\u2019s lawsuit against them.<\/p>\n
As previously reported, the Thirteenth Court of Appeals had denied a motion by Smith that sought to dismiss an appeal filed against him by the city’s mayor and councilmembers.<\/a><\/p>\n The appeal stems from Smith’s lawsuit against Castillo, Mayor Pro Tem Esmeralda Cruz-Molina, Alderwoman Mariah Moreno and Alderman Alonzo Molina.<\/a> That lawsuit alleges the city leaders acted beyond their legal authority.<\/p>\n Adam Beam<\/p>\n The San Patricio County Courthouse located at 400 W Sinton St, Sinton, TX 78387.<\/p>\n A San Patricio County district judge<\/a> previously denied Smith\u2019s request for a temporary injunction and declined to dismiss the lawsuit following a hearing on Jan. 8, allowing the case to proceed at the trial court level. Smith, who is representing himself in the matter, argued during that hearing that council actions had “clouded the lines of the chain of command.”<\/p>\n Also at the previous January meeting, an agenda item passed unanimously, calling on the city manager\u2019s $25,000 surety bond to cover the city\u2019s legal expenses in the lawsuit. A surety bond is a written agreement, often required by law, to guarantee performance or payment of another company\u2019s obligation under a separate contract or compliance with a law or regulation.<\/p>\n The Taft City Council will convene again on Tuesday, February 10.<\/p>\n For the latest local news updates, click here<\/a>, or download the KRIS 6 News App.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"SAN](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769602747_686_.png\")
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