Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The Corpus Christi City Council convened a special meeting on August 7, 2026, sitting as the tribunal for the removal hearing of Mayor Paulette Guajardo. The final day of the proceedings included public comment, a rebuttal witness, closing arguments, and executive session deliberation. Following the deliberation, the council returned to vote on the specific charges and penalties.
Good morning, everyone. I, as Mayor Pro Tim, I call this meeting to order. Um, Miss Rebecca, if you can take roll, please. Mayor Pro Tem Caelan Paxson present. Council Member Sylvia Campos, Eric Anthou, Gil Hernandez, Mark Scott, Carolyn Vaughn. Assistant City Manager at Ernesto de la Garza. Here. Assistant City Attorney Lisa Aguilar. Here. Mayor Pro Tem and Council, a quorum of the Council, and the required charter officers are present to conduct the meeting. Thank you. At this time, I would like to go to our next item, which is public comment. Public comment will be limited to one minute per speaker this morning. And first we have Samuel Andre Freyer. Um, Sami Andre Fryer. Um, I just wanted to say I'm neither here to either support the mayor, nor am I here to support um the those who have filed the petition. I'm actually here for one thing, and that's to um to encourage the tribunal to to be forthright, to be truthful and unbiased, and carry those procedures in a way that without any ulterior motives. And that's so important because the good thing is we're doing this so that we can possibly get things on record. That's a good thing. So regardless of the outcome, that is a very good thing. But I wanted to say one thing in the Bible in Proverbs eighteen seventeen, it says the first one to plead his cause, seems right until his neighbor comes and examines him. So keep that in mind, and I pray that we will do the right thing when it comes to this. Thank you. I was determined to keep an open mind about until I heard the evidence on both sides. However, I didn't think I was going to hear much evidence yesterday. No disrespect, Mr. Flood, but you pulled a doctor Fauci on me. However, after hearing the evidence, uh, I was wondering, is there such a thing as a RICO ruling for malfeasance, misconduct, incompetence, and willful neglect? From the beginning of this application all the way to the sound sign contract, this appears to be red flags everywhere. Just to name a few, you know, requesting for funds for new FEMA requirements, disappearance of dates from screenshots, significant disparities of money granted between agencies, FEMA requirements versus street level activation, contract signed before the second reading of city council, or if not the four turned into a one. And the and then the verbiage of the second reading differing from the first. All I'm asking is for truth and transparency. Thank you. Thank you. Kathy Fulton. Hi, my name is Kathy Fulton. I'm from Port Aranzas, Texas. And I just want to say one thing. And this matters to us too. Okay, it really does. Because your actions impact your surrounding communities. And I just want to say that the poll that was online with Chris News says 70, I think it's 72 or 74 percent of the people aren't supporting this, don't want this. Only 14 percent are supporting or say that this should finish happening. I want you to think about that. Those are your voters. You know, 74 percent of your voters are saying don't do this.