BALCONES HEIGHTS, Texas \u2013 The Balcones Heights mayor is categorically denying \u201cevery single complaint, every single allegation\u201d against him from an investigation into his conduct, despite saying he has not seen the 35-page report of its findings.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m telling the people that are listening to me that they are complete lies and have been fabricated to try to character assassinate me,\u201d Mayor Johnny Rodriguez Jr. told KSAT.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the same M.O. that they have followed for years to try to prevent me from being in office,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
An administrative investigation by an outside, Austin-based law firm, Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C., determined multiple allegations against Rodriguez, who was re-elected last month after running unopposed, were \u201csubstantiated.\u201d <\/p>\n
A report the firm delivered to the Balcones Heights City Council on Monday night states it is \u201cmore likely than not\u201d Rodriguez had engaged in unprofessional conduct and comments; created or contributed to a hostile, intimidating and retaliatory work environment for city staff; engaged in retaliatory behavior; and interfered with city matters beyond his scope of duties. <\/p>\n
The investigation followed multiple employee complaints or reports of the mayor\u2019s behavior since September 2024. Written complaints and witness interviews turned up numerous claims against the mayor, spanning 19 pages of the report.<\/p>\n
The claims included the mayor using the \u201cn-word\u201d multiple times when describing how he would talk with people in his work as a private investigator, suggesting the city call U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on homeless people who appeared to be undocumented, making homophobic comments, and apparently referring to employees as \u201crats\u201d in a voicemail.<\/p>\n
The report also states, \u201cthe evidence reflects repeated instances in which employees associated adverse treatment, threats regarding job security, heightened scrutiny, disciplinary efforts, or termination discussions with protected complaints, public criticism, association activity, or perceived opposition to the Mayor.\u201d<\/p>\n
The report includes multiple claims and anecdotes of confrontations with employees, including one with former Police Chief John Jahanara, in which recordings of the incident captured the mayor telling the chief that the then-city administrator would not be at the city much longer and the chief\u2019s days were numbered as well.<\/p>\n
The City Council voted 3-2 Monday to accept the report\u2019s findings, which they received during a closed-door session without Rodriguez present. They voted by the same margin to waive the city\u2019s attorney-client privilege and allow a version of the report with most of the names redacted to be publicly released.<\/p>\n