Maverick County residents learned on Monday that County Judge Ramsey Cantú will step down from his elected office before the end of his term. Cantú posted a video to his Facebook page explaining that, with nearly four months remaining, he believes resigning is in the best interest of the county and his own ability to serve.
Background of the suspension
In early May, a temporary suspension was ordered by Judge Patricia O. Alvarez of the 293rd Judicial District Court. The order cited alleged “official misconduct” and “incompetency,” terms defined in Section 87.011 of the Texas Local Government Code. While the order barred Cantú from exercising any powers, duties, or authority of the county judge, it did not detail specific instances of the alleged wrongdoing.
Because of the suspension, Cantú was prohibited from discussing any matters related to county government publicly. He noted in his video that the inability to speak openly about ongoing legal proceedings weighed heavily on his decision to resign.
Election outcome adds pressure
Earlier this year, Cantú lost his bid for re‑election in a tightly contested Democratic primary. Neither Cantú nor challenger Gerardo “Jerry” Morales secured a majority in the March primary, forcing a runoff on May 26. Morales won the runoff with 66% of the vote and will face Republican Ruben J. Camarillo in the November general election.
The combination of the suspension, pending legal matters, and the primary runoff loss created a situation where Cantú could have faced permanent removal following a jury trial had he remained in office.
Next steps for county government
The Maverick County Commissioners Court is scheduled to meet Friday morning to formally accept Cantú’s resignation and consider appointing a new interim judge to finish the remainder of the term. Since the May suspension, Rolando Jasso has served as interim county judge, but the court will decide whether a different temporary appointment is needed.
Judge Alvarez and the attorneys handling the case are set to meet on Monday to discuss whether the suspension should be rescinded now that Cantú has left office. The outcome of that meeting could affect any further legal actions related to the misconduct allegations.
Impact on the community
County judges in Texas play a central role in overseeing county operations, budgeting, and emergency management. Cantú’s departure means the commissioners court must quickly ensure continuity of leadership to address ongoing county projects, law‑enforcement coordination, and public‑service delivery.
Local officials emphasized that the transition will be handled transparently, with public notice of any new interim appointment. Residents can expect the commissioners court to provide updates at its upcoming meeting.
For more detailed coverage, see the KSAT Investigates page and follow local news outlets for further developments.
Original reporting: San Antonio, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
