By Edmond Ortiz
Balcones Heights Mayor Johnny Rodriguez was arrested Aug. 26 after an assault that allegedly occurred during a tension-filled Aug. 24 City Council meeting.
What you should know
Balcones Heights Community Relations Manager Roy Martinez confirmed that Rodriguez was arrested by Bexar County Pct. 2 Constable Leticia Vasquez on a misdemeanor warrant for assault related to an incident that took place in the middle of the council session.
An affidavit points to Lamar Gillian, a former Balcones Heights City Council member, as the complainant. Bexar County Jail records show that Rodriguez posted a $5,000 bond and was released from custody early Aug. 28. morning.
Authorities ordered Rodriguez to refrain from contacting Gillian, and from possessing firearms. According to a press release, daily city operations and services are unaffected, and Rodriguez remains mayor.
“The city respects the legal process and the fundamental principle that every individual is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty,” Martinez said in a statement. “During this difficult time, our thoughts are with Mayor Rodriguez and his family as they navigate the circumstances ahead.”
A frustrated Rodriguez left the council dais in the middle of a council meeting after being involved in arguments inside the council chambers with several people, namely Councilmembers Jimmy Hernandez and Juan Lecea, who as mayor pro tem took over the meeting following Rodriguez’s abrupt departure.
A larger perspective
Over the last few months, Balcones Heights council meetings have been frequently marked by heated exchanges between Rodriguez, some council members, even key city staffers and residents in the audience.
In July, council had considered but did not act upon a proposed no-confidence vote in Rodriguez, who filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Balcones Heights after council last March authorized limits on his mayoral powers and duties.
For a time, that authorization included Rodriguez being locked out of city governmental offices, and kept away from city resources. Council also ordered an internal investigation into claims that Rodriguez was micromanaging or berating city employees, and constantly overstepping his boundaries as mayor.
Earlier in August, the city provided a news release, saying that the investigation had concluded with the council voting in June to adopt an ordinance designed to “strengthen workplace expectations, and establish measures intended to promote a professional work environment, reduce the potential for hostile workplace conditions, and help mitigate organizational liability.”
The city did not provide any details on the findings of the investigation. At the Aug. 24 council meeting, tensions resurfaced over a disagreement between Rodriguez and Police Chief Roger Cavazos on the minutes of a previous council meeting.
The minutes regarded an open discussion about how the police department was supposed to handle security at City Hall in light of the limits that council had placed on Rodriguez last spring.
Another argument arose at the council dais with the very next council meeting agenda item – approval of the city’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget.
Within minutes, Rodriguez, Hernandez, Lecea and others around the dais exchanged fierce remarks and charges that strayed further away from the budget item, and veered more into political and personal conflicts and attacks.
Rodriguez repeatedly claimed in open session that some council members, primarily Lecea and Hernandez, wanted to “disrupt” proceedings. He even went as far as to call such council members “childish.”
To be sure, Lecea has openly made known his disagreements with Rodriguez on several issues, and the way that he approaches city governance and dealing with city staff.
“Will you people stop acting like children?!” Rodriguez, with raised hands, pleaded after directing a statement to Lecea’s wife in the audience.
“The child is you, mayor,” Juan Lecea retorted, adding that he was using proper parliamentary procedure to make a point during a heated budget discussion, but Rodriguez felt differently.
“Quit playing games in a professional environment. Stop it,” Rodriguez replied.
“You’re the one who needs to stop,” Hernandez told the mayor.
But the infighting continued to a point where Rodriguez and Lecea exchanged multiple allegations of a personal nature. Rodriguez and Councilmember Molly Weaver then promptly picked up their belongings and prepared to leave the council chambers even though the meeting was still in session.
At another point, a police officer stepped up to the dais when Lecea tried to get the presiding officer’s gavel from Rodriguez.
“I’ve had it with you guys. You guys are just terrible,” Rodriguez exclaimed as he got up to leave the room. “This is not good for our city. This is not why I ran for office. I’ve tried my best. I’m not quitting, but I’m not going to tolerate this.”
On his way out of the council chambers, Rodriguez briefly engaged an audience member – later identified as Lamar Gillian – before a police officer separated them. Rodriguez then left City Hall.
Following a short break spurred by Rodriguez and Weaver’s sudden departure, Lecea resumed the council meeting with three other council members.
