Article Referred By Alex Zuniga
“Gutierrez, represented by attorney Samuel Reyes, alleges that she voiced concerns with the bidding process for insurance contracts for the district..”
PSJA board member sues fellow trustees over attempt to censure her
By Omar Zapata – June 4, 2025
A PSJA board member has filed a lawsuit against her colleagues to stop them from an effort to censure her.
Cynthia Gutierrez filed the petition against Diana Serna, Carlos Villegas and Yolanda Castillo on May 27 and on Monday a judge signed a temporary restraining order preventing them from doing just that only hours before a specially called meeting to censure Gutierrez that same day.
The meeting was canceled and a hearing on the matter is scheduled for June 10.
Gutierrez, represented by attorney Samuel Reyes, alleges that she voiced concerns with the bidding process for insurance contracts for the district and has been the target of harassment in efforts to suppress her voice.
The petition states that the school board revised its policy in February to include censuring members, which Gutierrez believes is vague and allows the censorship of trustees if their “actions repeatedly violate board expectations or significantly interfere with the Board’s ability to govern effectively.”
The school board first tried to censure Gutierrez at a meeting scheduled for May 27. After filing the lawsuit, the meeting was canceled.
The petition also states that Gutierrez has no formal warnings regarding any allegedly problematic behavior, and that none of her actions have formally been brought to her attention as a violation of board expectations or interfering with its ability to govern effectively.
The temporary restraining order was also filed against the PSJA ISD board members to refrain from voting or discussing her censure, stating she will suffer immediate and irreparable injury, harm, loss or damage.
In an affidavit, Gutierrez states she believes the censorship against her is politically motivated and in violation of her constitutional rights to free speech.
The affidavit alleges Gutierrez has been subjected to ongoing harassment, malicious commentary and targeted social media attacks.
“In recent months, I have raised important questions regarding district operations, alongside fellow board member Griselda Quintanilla,” Gutierrez states in the affidavit. “Instead of fostering transparency, President Serna has repeatedly attempted to silence us through procedural tactics and now, through this proposed censure.”
The defendants, represented by attorney Eric Flores from the district’s legal counsel of O’Hanlon, Demerath & Castillo, said they deny the allegations contained in Gutierrez’s lawsuit, objects to the temporary restraining order, that the plaintiff has failed to demonstrate proof and failed to establish that she will suffer immediate harm.
On Tuesday, Gutierrez filed a motion seeking to disqualify the district’s legal counsel from further representation of the school board members due to an alleged conflict of interest.
The motion states that Gutierrez previously consulted with Benjamin Castillo, an attorney at the law firm, with disclosed information and continued representation of the defendants creates a direct conflict of interest, risks misuse of information and undermines the integrity of the proceedings.
That motion has not been ruled on as of Wednesday afternoon.
SOURCE: myrgv.com
Smart money says this is just another common controversy about two insurance agents vying for the district’s voluntary insurance program, a lucrative business paying high commissions. Robert Ramirez (Puro Seguro) and Bob Trevino (Trevino Insurance) each have friends on the Board of Trustees. One has more friends than the other.
To find out who has the most friends, go to 48:40 HERE. See board agenda HERE
