Maverick County Commissioners Court Denies The Border Organization Use of Quemado June Edwards Community Center for a Town Hall Meeting
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2025
Maverick County Commissioners Court took Agenda Item No. 19 A(2) into Executive Session of their Tuesday, December 23, 2025 special meeting to discuss and consult with its Attorney regarding the Border Organization use of the June Edwards Community Center in Quemado, Texas for a town hall meeting with candidates for County Judge and Justice of the Peace Precinct 3-2.
Upon its return into Open Session, Maverick County Judge Ramsey English Cantu called Agenda Item No. 19 A(2) and stated that Commissioners Court move forward as directed by legal counsel. Commissioner Olga M. Ramos stated that she would notify the individual who made the request on behalf of the Border Organization that they can not use the June Edwards Community Center in Quemado, Texas for “political” purposes, according to legal counsel.
Maverick County Commissioners Court decision to deny the Border Organization, a non-profit corporation, use of the June Edwards Community Center for a town hall meeting caused grave consternation among Maverick County taxpayers and members of the Border Organization present at the special meeting. One taxpayer told Judge Cantu and Commissioner Ramos that they were greatly disappointed with their decision to deny the non-profit group the use of a county community center. Judge Cantu proceeded to instruct a Deputy Sheriff to remove a certain individual from the meeting.
Carol Martin, a member of the Border Organization, penned a letter to all fellow Quemadoans concerning Commissioners Court denial of use of the June Edwards Community Center. Martin stated “On behalf of the Border Organization, a non-partisan group, I requested the use of the June Edwards Community Center on January 8, 2026, for the purpose of holding a Town Hall question and answer session with all of the candidates who are running for the Maverick County Judge position next year, as well as with all of the candidates for Precinct 3-2 Justice of the Peace. We thought this would be a good opportunity for voters here in Quemado to ask questions that pertain to our community. To be clear, we are not endorsing any one candidate, but want to promote our community’s awareness of the candidates and the issues. So far, we had contacted 2 of these candidates, one of whom had agreed to attend, and were in the process of inviting the rest. Unfortunately, my request, which for some reason had to be approved by Maverick County Commissioner’s Court, was denied this afternoon. I intend to protest this decision, and to resubmit my request, this time for a proposed meeting on Thursday, January 15, 2026. If you are interested in attending this type of meeting, please respond to this post. Or, you could contact Commissioner Ramos directly to let her know whether or not you are in support of such a meeting.”
Members of The Border Organization were shocked and surprised that Maverick County Commissioners Court denied them use of the community center in Quemado, Texas based on their legal counsel’s opinion that such a town hall meeting of candidates is an inappropriate “political” purpose. One taxpayer raised the point that such ridiculous legal opinion basically denies American citizens their first amendment right of freedom of speech and to peacefully assemble in the community. Another taxpayer compared the use of Maverick County Precinct Centers for Christmas Toy Distributions as also being a “political” purpose because certain Commissioners and the County Judge used the Precinct Centers to campaign for re-election disguised as toy distributions. They took photographs and videos of themselves campaigning as toy distributions and posted them online. The line as to what is a “political” purpose and what is not seems to easily blur in the mind of the citizen.
Another taxpayer suggested that the recently held Market Days at the County Lake, Christmas Day Celebration at the Lake, and the County Judge’s Christmas Breakfast at the Courthouse all used county funds to promote certain political candidates seeking re-election, questioning whether these county events are “political” too? Stay tuned.
