Former councilmember sues to suspend Laredo bond election

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - As the City of Laredo’s bond election approaches its conclusion, a lawsuit seeking a permanent injunction against the election is currently pending in a Webb County district court.

Just two days after the election began, former Councilmember Alfonso “Poncho” Casso filed a petition to permanently suspend it. He stated, “I wish I had done it sooner to get a hearing, and who knows, I may still get it, but the odds of that are not going to happen. I think it has exposed them. It’s exposed the shenanigans.”

He claims the city participated in improper advocacy in their information campaigns, noting, “In the newspaper, they would say this is a small impact on your taxes, that’s advocacy, you’re not supposed to say that. You’re supposed to just put the information there. They’re trying to persuade you, that’s what they’re doing. They’re not supposed to try to persuade you, just put the information impartially.”

When Laredo City Attorney Doanh “Zone” Nguyen was asked if the statements characterizing the tax impact as small amounted to advocacy, he responded, “No. We are allowed to present facts and information, and that’s all that’s been out there. He’s using these same facts and information and arguing with them. The law prohibits using public funds for political activity, and political activity means getting people to be swayed for or against, and that’s not the case.”



https://www.kgns.tv/2025/04/30/former-councilmember-sues-suspend-laredo-bond-election/