KINGSVILLE FIRING VOTE CAN PROCEED

CORPUS CHRISTI -- Two Kingsville city commissioners still aren't allowed to
vote on whether to fire the city manager, but their colleagues may, a
federal judge ruled Monday in a case that has aired accusations of
political influence in city politics by drug traffickers.

U.S. District Judge Hayden Head Jr. lifted the temporary restraining order
he issued two weeks ago, but only for three of the five members of the
Kingsville City Commission it originally covered, Mayor Phil Esquivel Jr.
and Commissioners Al Garcia and Charles Wilson.

However, he extended until Friday the order against Commissioners Arturo
Pecos and Horacio Castillo Sr., who have been sued individually by City
Manager Hector Hinojosa.

Hinojosa alleges the pair is involved in a conspiracy hatched by drug
traffickers to ultimately get rid of Police Chief Sam Granato and derail
drug investigations by first firing Hinojosa, the chief's supervisor.

Claiming violations of federal racketeering laws, Hinojosa is seeking an
injunction to prevent his ouster, which was on the City Commission agenda
of Jan. 13. On that day, three bullets with the names of Esquivel, Pecos
and Castillo were found at City Hall, and Hinojosa obtained the temporary
restraining order.

Head found that the most recent court filings by Hinojosa leave Pecos and
Castillo as the sole defendants in the case, both as individuals and in
their official capacity as commissioners.

Head gave Hinojosa's attorney, Sam Westergren, a deadline of noon today to
file specific allegations against the two city leaders to back up the
lawsuit's claims.

Head said he wanted to deal with procedural issues and stressed he wasn't
ruling on the merits of the case Monday. Another hearing is possible Friday.

Castillo and Pecos are represented by lawyer Hal George, who in urging the
case's dismissal called the allegations "hearsay compounded on hearsay."

"I am extremely confident that this is a made-up story for some political
purpose," he said after the hearing.