CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Controversy is once again surrounding the City's library board after one of its members, Alice Upshaw Hawkins, said she is being forced to step down.
She questions if it's because of her stance and being outspoken on proposed changes to the collection policy, but the City said it has to do with rules governed by the city charter.
It's an issue that the local chapter of the NAACP is now getting involved with.
The organization's vice president, Deanna King, went before city council Tuesday demanding that Hawkins keep her position on the library board.
"I'm not here trying to create a big brouhaha over this, because I'm willing to abide by the spirit of the law," Hawkins said. "The issue I have, the law allows you to become a sitting member, but if you run for office, then you got to unload yourself."
She said she received a letter from the City just days after she won her third term to the CCISD school board saying she must forfeit her seat on the city library board.
It's a role she was first appointed to back in 2022 while also serving on the school board.
The NAACP came to her defense saying Hawkins should remain on the library board.
"She received the letter this past Friday which I believe is no coincidence, right before a library board meeting which was this morning," King addressed council during public comment at Tuesday's city council meeting. "We want to know who instructed the city secretary to send this letter out."
A letter from the chapter's president Jeremy Coleman requests a meeting with the city secretary over the matter, stating that the action raises questions over the "values and priorities guiding such decisions."
"You got to remember the city puts out policies and procedures and sometimes they don't follow their own policies and procedures," King said.
The letter also stated that the NAACP and LULAC would move forward with legal action to resolve the matter if necessary.
City Secretary Rebecca Huerta explained during Tuesday's council meeting that the issue falls under the city charter.
"Upon the election or appointment to a non-city public office, or upon filing as a candidate for any position under this charter, such board commission or committee member shall forfeit his or her position," she said.
Huerta shared a letter with 3NEWS in which the question of Hawkins' eligibility to serve arose back in 2022 when she was first appointed to the board.
A legal opinion from the city's attorney's office said, "I would not recommend appointing Hawkins to the position."
Councilmember Gil Hernandez said it's not the first time a removal has happened this year and that the city secretary was just doing her job.
"We're not treating anybody differently," he said.
Following the city council meeting, 3NEWS asked Huerta if she was directed or pressured to send a letter to Hawkins. She said no and that it was part of the post-election process.
Alice said she would like to see if council can revisit the policy.
The City said the city charter cannot be changed until it goes to an election.