Romero’s verbal resignation still not official

Despite media reports and Mayor Oscar Leeser’s assertion that City Rep. Larry Romero has resigned, the city attorney said they cannot treat it as an official resignation.

“The Texas Election Code requires that something be submitted in writing and signed by the office holder that’s seeking to resign and in our case they need to turn it in to either the city clerk or to the mayor. It’s not official, we cannot treat it as an official resignation yet,” City Attorney Sylvia Firth said in an interview Wednesday.

Leeser had said Romero verbally resigned to him last week but did not turn in a resignation letter.

Romero is facing separate investigations by a city-hired ethics attorney and the City’s Ethics Review Commission. The investigations mostly revolve around the process to hire a new financial adviser. City officials almost hired firm Estrada Hinojosa, a company whose CEO had once worked with Romero and whom Romero had before suggested to city officials but had not initially disclosed his former business ties with.

The City’s Ethics Commission on Wednesday night will discuss the status of the investigation should Romero officially resign.

“They need to address that and how to act,” Firth said.

After and if Romero turns in a resignation letter, the city council can accept it. Even if council doesn’t accept it, the resignation would become effective in eight days, whichever comes first.

The Texas Election Code does not allow council to deny Romero’s resignation.

If Romero resigns, the Texas constitution requires the city to hold an election within four months. Because it takes time to get it approved, council would have to call for the election before March 22 to get the race on the May 7 ballot. Romero would have to turn in a resignation letter before March 22.

Romero did not return ABC-7’s requests seeking comment.