Gabe Guzman resigned his position as chairman of the Willacy County Housing Authority board last week in a letter submitted to the County Commissioners Court.

Acting Willacy County Judge Aurelio "Keter" Guerra said that he did not want to comment on Guzman's decision but acknowledged that his resignation was accepted.

Earlier, Willacy County Judge Elect John Gonzales was critical of Guzman's position on the board because he lives in Harlingen. Gonzales said that board positions should be reserved for county residents.

Another board member who has been under fire is Martha Mendoza who has not attended a monthly meeting of the Housing Authority in the past six months.

According to board member Hector Galindo, board policy provides that a member who misses three consecutive meetings without the consent of the board should be removed. Other board members are Delores Strader and Monseis Robles.

For the past year the board has been working on plans for a $4.9 million U.S. Dept. of Housing & Community Affairs grant to be used for a large low income housing complex to be known as Cottonwood Apartments project.

The regular monthly meeting of the Housing Authority is scheduled for Thurs., Aug. 26 but so far no agenda has been provided to the Chronicle/News by Paul Valencia, the executive director of the WCHA.

Judge Guerra said that no one has yet been appointed to fill Guzman's position on the board.