Ponton avoids political dust-up, again

By ALBERTO TOMAS HALPERN

ALPINE – For the second week in a row, Alpine City Attorney and 83^rd District Attorney runoff candidate Rod Ponton has avoided yet another attempt by Alpine City Council members to apparently try and fire him.

A special meeting of the council was called for Tuesday evening, in which city officials would discuss Ponton’s conduct concerning Texas Ethics Commission fines, area newspaper articles, and “possible violations relating to personnel policy guidelines,” as well as a review of Ponton’s advice to council members in his capacity as city attorney.

Other agenda items included possibly taking action on a personnel matter concerning the city attorney.

Fortunately for Ponton, there was no quorum and the meeting was scuttled. Council members Diana Asgeirsson, Mike Davidson and Carlos Lujan were in attendance at the meeting. Council members Angie Bermudez, Julian Gonzales and Mayor Avinash Rangra were not at the meeting, essentially busting the quorum.

Last Tuesday, the Alpine council meet to discuss the same thing, Ponton’s conduct. After a lengthy executive session, in which Ponton’s conduct was discussed, council members took no action against the city attorney at that meeting.

Ponton came prepared to Tuesday’s meeting with a letter from his attorney, William M. McKamie, telling city officials to mind what they do before making a grave error. Houston and Marfa attorney Dick DeGuerin is also representing Ponton. The letter was submitted to Rangra and council members and is a public document that can be viewed upon submitting an open records request to city hall.

Ponton the candidate has been embroiled in a race fraught with political theatre so dramatic it would make James Carville and Karl Rove blush. His opponent is Alpine attorney and former district attorney Frank Brown. The two are seeking the Democratic nomination for district attorney. There is no Republican challenger in November, making the winner of the Democratic runoff election on Tuesday the next district attorney.