A San Patricio County district judge denied a request by Taft City Manager Ryan Smith for a temporary injunction and declined to dismiss his lawsuit against Mayor Elida Castillo and several city council members following a hearing Thursday in the 343rd District Court.
The ruling does not address the merits of the lawsuit and only allows the case to move forward in district court.
Smith filed suit earlier this month against Castillo, Mayor Pro Tem Esmeralda Cruz-Molina, Alderwoman Moriah Moreno and Alderman Alonzo Molina, all in their official capacities. The lawsuit seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, alleging city leaders acted beyond their legal authority and interfered with the city manager’s duties…