State Rep. Vilma Luna steps down from office

Link: KRISTV.COM - Vilma Luna announces resignation.

Vilma Luna, State Representative for District 33, announced Wednesday morning that she is resigning from the Texas House. She said she is not sure what she plans to do next, but her last day in office will be July 31. She made that announcement during a press conference Wednesday morning.

I am caught completely by surprise by this. I am looking at the election code to find out exactly what it means for this district. Anyone in CC attend this? Anyone know "why" she is resigning?

UPDATE: BOR has some thoughts on how the race will go forward.

The the county executive committee (CEC) will meet to replace Rep. Luna on the ballot. The CEC is made up of the precinct chairs from House District 33 (all 46 of them) and the County Chair in Nueces County. Solomon Ortiz Jr. is expected to announce by the end of the evening, and Danny Noyola Sr. is expected to announce as well.

Since the Republican Party did not field a candidate to run against Rep. Luna, they will not have anyone on the November ballot, and the seat will remain Democratic.

Matt is saying that the word on the street is that "she will be offered a job at HillCo and cash out while the going is good." Kuff has more and South Texas Chisme is just plain happy.

For those who don't know who Danny Noyola, the Caller Times states that "Danny Noyola Sr., former principal of Miller High School, was scheduled to announce his intent to run for Luna's position at noon."  STXC has some more of Noyola in the news. (1 & 2). Apparently, the Noyola family is quite active down the Nueces County but sometimes not without controversy.

UPDATE 2: Let the speculation begin. Besides the Hilco thing, people are guessing that she may 1) resign to be a regent at a state university (don't think so 'cause you get the gig first then quit), 2) be appointed to Secretary of State (see reason from one) or 3) run in a newly drawn Congressional district. If any of this is true, then she is contradicting her own statement "but it is time for my family and I to have more flexibility in our lives."

UPDATE 3: BOR has a different senario on how the election/selection will take place.

There's some confusion on how the process to replace Rep. Luna goes. I've talked to a lawyer and a close friend (who spent 30 minutes on the phone with the Secretary of State's office). Here's what will happen (and I'll quote the Election code and the Secretary of State website):

"An executive committee may make a replacement nomination following a withdrawal."§ 145.036.

There are several scenarios where they can do that, one of which is if "no political party that held primary elections has a nominee for the office sought by the withdrawing candidate as of the time of the withdrawal."§ 145.036.(b)(2)

Since Rep. Luna resigned, there's no one on the ballot at the time of the withdrawal. Therefore, "Under the circumstances described by Subsection (b)(2), the appropriate executive committee of each political party making nominations for the general election for state and county officers may make a replacement nomination for the office sought by the withdrawing candidate."§ 145.036.(c)

So the R and D distict executive committee get together (which is made up of the county and precinct chairs of each party) and choose someone whose name will appear on the November ballot.

So, Rs have a say huh? The SOS will weigh in soon on this matter. However, if true, the prospect of Solomon Ortiz Jr. winning has just shot down.

 

Comments

[Matt]

I am hearing she has been offered a job at HillCo.