BASTROP, Texas - The city of Bastrop is dealing with some political unrest. Last week more than 4,000 registered voters in Bastrop received a petition to recall Mayor Ken Kesselus.
KVUE spoke with Linda Curtis, one of the members of Independent Texas, the group behind the petition. The group is accusing Kesselus of ethics violations and what they call "unbecoming behavior."
"This is a series of things that have gone on that are smoking guns for behavior that needs reprimand so we are doing it," Curtis said.
Curtis says the biggest issue the group has with Kesselus is what's going on with the city's water. Curtis say Bastrop wants a permit from the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District to pump 2,000 acre-feet of water a year from a well for future needs. Independent Texas have no problem with this idea.
However, the group feels Kesselus did nothing to try to stop a former city council member's attempts to sell the city’s water. Group members say Kesselus appointed the member to the Bastrop Economic Development Corporation Board.
KVUE spoke with Kesselus moments before the Bastrop City Council meeting on Tuesday. Kesselus says the petition has no merit and his attention is focused on the city's needs.
"To twist this around and say that in effort to try to make it permanent in our city charter is just ludicrous." Kesselus said.
Kesselus says the appointment to development board was approved by council, in fact everything has been decided by council. Curtis wouldn't disclose how many signatures the group has, however they'll need to collect signatures from 25 percent of registered voters before a recall election is held.
