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November 9, 2007

Citizens voice opinion on Eustace mayor

By Art Lawler

EUSTACE — Some came to cast rhetorical stones at their mayor, calling for her ouster, or her resignation.

“It’s called moral turpitude,” said B.J. Lewis, a local citizen.

“I don’t think she should put the city through this,” said Mark Sanders, another Eustace citizen.

“She should be setting an example and holding up the city,” Lewis said.

The mayor has been under fire from some members of the community to resign ever since she was arrested Sept. 23 after a Gun Barrel City altercation that sent another woman to a Tyler hospital.

But the mayor also got strong support from another citizen, Cindy Rodriguez.

She called the mayor a “dedicated wife, mother, professional business woman and city official.”

“Laura is the wife to long time resident and businessman, Jack Ward,” she said. “She has four beautiful children, three of whom she brough into this world, Brittany, Brisha and Blake.

“And then there is Jacquelyn, her niece whom she is now raising as a daughter. Laura took on the responsibility and life of this child after the passing of her sister.”

She lauded her friend as a citizen who dedicates herself to endless amounts of time with volunteer work witih the school district and community.

“Her knowledge and heart are unsurpassable when it comes to the needs, hopes and goals for our city and the people who live here.”

She concluded by making a Biblical reference, saying some in the community were eager to cast the first stone, forgetting the mayor’s consitutional rights of innocence until proven guilty.”

“Laura Ward is my friend, but better yet, she is my mayor,” said Rodriguez. “I am personally making a stand to support our town, and support our mayor, and I challenge each of you to search in your souls, and don’t cast that first stone.”

A crowd of around 40 had crowded into the tiny Eustace City Hall last Thursday night to see what would happen.

Turned out, the meeting was civil, with both sides making their points without anyone having to be removed from the building, as was the case at a meeting last month.

Ward’s attorney, Mike Head, was in the audience, still insisting that his client not comment on the case until the Henderson County District Attorney’s office has made a decision on when it will turn the case over to a grand jury.

Ward read a prepared statement:

I appreciate everyone being here today and any concerns that you may have.

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