McALLEN — A member of Hidalgo County Head Start’s Policy Council almost saw himself voted off the board the same evening the council terminated former executive director Teresa Flores earlier this month.
Chair Avelina Peña Segovia told Community Representative Abraham Padron at that meeting on Sept. 15 that the council would vote on removing him because of complaints she had received on his conduct.
“There have been, since April, different complaints that have been reached out to me, under conduct in executive session,” Segovia said. “You have made people feel very uncomfortable, you have caused people to fear coming to the meetings.”
Offended and indignant, Padron said he’d done nothing but speak his mind and retorted that Segovia had allowed the council to “run amok.”
“I haven’t been verbally abusive toward anybody,” he said. “I just tell you what it is: I think you’re wrong.”
The council has been severely divided for the past two months, arguing heatedly about bylaws regarding elected council representative’s eligibility and Flores’ termination.
The council is loosely split into two groups: Segovia appears to be the most talkative member of a fairly solid majority on the eleven-member body that successfully pushed for a looser understanding of eligibility requirements and Flores’ termination.
Padron, the vice chair, vocally supported Flores and tighter eligibility requirements.
For wider political context, Segovia is a La Joya Independent School District employee appointed to the council by Commissioner Ever Villarreal. Padron, who launched an unsuccessful election bid against State Rep. Sergio Munoz in 2020, is a Commissioner Eddie Cantu appointee.
Raised voices, talking over other representatives, and animated hand motions are common with representatives, including Segovia and Padron.
It’s not clear what specific executive session behavior Segovia was referring to, but she claimed Padron had called people a liar and had insulted her specifically with a comment about La Joya ISD.
At one point during a meeting last month, commenting on the cost of an external audit Segovia wanted, Padron insisted that Head Start is “not La Joya ISD.” That remark was obviously interpreted as an insult to the corruption-riddled district.
Voting on Padron’s removal deadlocked 4-4 and he remained on the board.
“We all have been getting very, very rowdy and excited when it comes to our meetings,” said Parent Representative Cecilia Arredondo, who voted against the removal.
The removal push did little to lessen that “rowdy” behavior. Padron and Segovia traded a number of barbs.
“You continue to be here. I just hope we can keep a professional conduct so I can stop receiving phone calls of the issues people have with your comments. And you lack a professional conduct…” Segovia told Padron.
“I truly hope that you will do a better job of running these meetings,” he replied.
