DA Mark Gonzalez's removal hearing set a week after announcement of run against Ted Cruz
John OlivaNueces County District Attorney Mark Gonzalez announced he will run against U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in a YouTube video Tuesday.
The video, nearly two and a half minutes long, has Gonzalez acknowledging Cruz took a trip to Cancun during the 2021 winter freeze, and discussing his own DWI-arrest when he was 19 in Kleberg County. It also alludes to the recent attempt to remove Gonzalez from office.
"Texans deserve a leader as tough as they are willing to fight for justice, even on the really cold and dark days because that's when it matters the most," Gonzalez, 43, said in the video. "That's why I'm running against Ted Cruz, because the little guy needs someone to stand up for them."
On his campaign Facebook, Gonzalez shared his video and said he won twice in a red county as a Democrat by running on his values, "not away from them."
With his video, Gonzalez must resign from his position as District Attorney according to Article 16, Section 65 of the Texas Constitution.
The section specifies if any officers announce their candidacy for any general, special or primary election other than the office they currently hold, the announcement will constitute an automatic resignation of the office they hold.
In a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott, Gonzalez sent his official resignation Tuesday.
In January, a local conservative activist filed a petition seeking the removal of Gonzalez.
The 118-page petition, filed by Colby Wiltse, a Nueces County resident and Texas state director for County Citizens Defending Freedom, contends the two-term Democratic district attorney should be removed from office as a result of "incompetency, official misconduct, and failure to give bond."
A hearing will be held at the Nueces County Courthouse regarding the petition removal on Sept. 12, according to Gonzalez's attorney Chris Gale.
Nueces County Attorney Jenny Dorsey said the petition will continue until she receives word from Abbott about the confirmation of Gonzalez's resignation.
In his resignation letter, Gonzales told Abbott the civil removal trial, set for December, will "never happen because I refuse to play this rigged Republican game, particularly considering the Republicans’ hypocrisy, as their presumptive presidential nominee is under indictment in four jurisdictions across this beautiful country and no less revered."
In a release, Gonzalez said the "hyper-partisan" efforts are meant to divide people and undermine democracy, and he won't be part of any attempt to harm Texas.
“Bullies don’t scare me, what does is how we treat our neighbors and those who can afford hardship the least," Gonzales said. "I’ll be a Senator who prioritizes people, finding solutions with a focus on what’s best for Texans.”
Gonzalez joins several other candidates: Texas Congressman Colin Allred, Rev. Tract Andrus, veteran Aaron Arguijo, candidate Victor Dunn, Sen. Roland Gutierrez, retired U.S. Navy Cap. Steven Keough, financial advisor John Love III, entrepreneur Heli Rodriguez Prilliman and candidate Thierry Tchenko.
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John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Contact him at john.oliva@caller.com or Twitter @johnpoliva.
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