Longtime Democratic Party Chair Ernesto "Lefty" Cavazos was named Friday to fill the unexpired term of Gabe Guzman on the Willacy County Housing Authority board.

The Housing Authority operates the county's low income public housing complex on Expressway 77. In addition to the newest member, the board consists of Hector Galindo, Martha Strader, Monseis Robles and Martha Mendoza who has not been attending meetings in recent months, but has not resigned her seat on the board.

For the past year the board has been working on a $4.9 millionloan from the U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development to build a large new complex, to be known as Cottonwood Apartments.

The board has been in turmoil in recent months with constant attacks on the previous chair, Guzman, by board member Galindo, who accuses Guzman and executive director Paul Valencia of improper actions. Valencia also submitted his resignation recently, the Chronicle/News has been told. County Commissioners did not comment on the absences racked up by Ms. Mendoza from WCHA board meetings, but Galindo claims that she should be removed because of missing three consecutive meetings without board approval.

It is known that the WCHA is broke and bills have been paid late in recent months as money was diverted to pay a handy man to make repairs and paint some of the apartments.

The Housing Authority has been unable to come up with $541,224 in matching funds it needs to secure the HUD loan for the Cottonwood project. A deadline to produce the matching funds expired in August, after a 90-day extension was granted.

Meanwhile the status of a $450,000 WCHA note held by Rio Bank is unclear. Last month Guzman and Valencia attempted to renegotiate the loan with the bank president. Guzman said the renewal was approved and the new note will expire in December.

Board meetings are held at the WCHA office on the last Thurs. of the month.