Public comment drew residents on both sides of the issue, with several calling for transparency as the process moves forward.<\/p>\n
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas \u2014 The legal battle over the removal of Paulette Guajardo took center stage during Tuesday\u2019s Corpus Christi City Council meeting, serving as the final item on the agenda.<\/p>\n
Public comment drew residents on both sides of the issue, with several calling for transparency as the process moves forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I was sitting in the mayor’s position right now, I would welcome this process,\u201d one resident said during Tuesday\u2019s public comment period.<\/p>\n
RELATED: Federal Judge Hears Arguments in Legal Battle Over Corpus Christi Mayor’s Removal<\/a><\/p>\n The agenda item focused on procedural discussions, including the appointment of former Nueces County Judge Terry Shamsie and the potential selection of witnesses.<\/p>\n Those discussions were held in executive session, but before council members went behind closed doors, residents voiced frustration and concern over the ongoing process.<\/p>\n \u201cWe hold you guys to a higher standard. Ethically, you should do what’s right,\u201d another speaker said.<\/p>\n Mayor Paulette Guajardo said she could not comment directly on the case, but described the situation surrounding the petition as \u201cinteresting.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe charter reads in a way no one ever thought until something like this happened, so as the mayor of Corpus Christi, I of course feel strongly that five people should not be able to remove any elected official,\u201d Guajardo said.<\/p>\n For now, the mayor \u2014 along with residents across the city \u2014 is waiting to see what happens next.<\/p>\n \u201cDemocracy is important in this situation. So we’ll see where it goes one day at a time,\u201d Guajardo said.<\/p>\n City council is expected to revisit the matter next Wednesday.<\/p>\n More from 3NEWS on KIIITV.com: \u00a0<\/p>\n