Wilkes resigned as CEO of the National LULAC after Rocha, the LULAC National President refused to resign and filed a civil lawsuit in Texas to prevent the National LULAC Executive Committee Board from ousting him from office.
By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.
February 17, 2018
Washington, D.C. - On Friday, Brent Wilkes, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) resigned after Roger C. Rocha Jr., the LULAC National President refused to resigned and filed a civil lawsuit seeking a restraining order in Bexar County, Texas to keep the LULAC National Executive Committee Board from ousting him from office. A judge in Bexar County granted Rocha a restraining order on Thursday and a hearing for a continued restraining order is scheduled for February 28.
At the National Board meeting on Saturday, the LULAC National Board of Directors adopted a motion of no confidence against Roger Rocha, Jr., its National President. The Board further confirmed that the National Board of Directors would continue to perform its duties of advocating and fighting for our community.
At the National Board meeting on Saturday, the LULAC National Board of Directors adopted a motion of no confidence against Roger Rocha, Jr., its National President. The Board further confirmed that the National Board of Directors would continue to perform its duties of advocating and fighting for our community.
LULAC released the following press release on Friday, that LULAC National Board convened in Washington, D.C. to address recent public concerns regarding the organization's leadership and assess the necessary next steps. Roger C. Rocha, Jr. announced his intent to serve out his term until the national elections take place on Saturday, July 21, 2018 at the Annual LULAC National Convention & Exposition in Phoenix, Arizona. Mr. Rocha does not plan to run for a final term. In the meantime, the National Board, on behalf of the National Assembly, will continue to perform it's duties.
LULAC National Chief Executive Officer Brent Wilkes resigned, but also restated that he will help LULAC with the transition as he exits out of the organization. Mr. Wilkes has served the organization for 30 years, advocating on behalf of Latino civil rights, voting rights, immigration, education, health care, the environment and more. Under his longtime leadership, LULAC has become one of the most respected voices on Latino civil rights issues.
On February 4, the NECB decided to stripped Rocha from his administrative duties and cut off his stipend. Rocha lost his authority and privilege to return to his administrative office, since the locks were changed and Wilkes too over until a new president is selected.
The Texas State LULAC Board also held an emergency conference call on February 4 and sent a letter to Rocha requesting his resignation "for the good and welfare of the League." The Texas LULAC also stated that it stands with the National LULAC Clean DREAM Act platform and stands against Rocha's letter to Trump supporting his immigration reform plan.
Rocha had sent his support to Trump by using an outdated LULAC National letter head, which drew condemnation from the Texas LULAC including numerous other LULAC Councils from throughout the U.S.
Rocha was forced to retracted the letter sent to Trump. He attempted to explain that it was a personal letter to the president, but the letter was leaked out by the main stream media. U.S. Majority Senate leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) even used Rocha's letter to show support for Trump's immigration reform plan after the government shutdown, which was in contrary with the National LULAC mandate to support a Clean DREAM Act.
The Texas State LULAC Board also held an emergency conference call on February 4 and sent a letter to Rocha requesting his resignation "for the good and welfare of the League." The Texas LULAC also stated that it stands with the National LULAC Clean DREAM Act platform and stands against Rocha's letter to Trump supporting his immigration reform plan.
Rocha had sent his support to Trump by using an outdated LULAC National letter head, which drew condemnation from the Texas LULAC including numerous other LULAC Councils from throughout the U.S.
Rocha was forced to retracted the letter sent to Trump. He attempted to explain that it was a personal letter to the president, but the letter was leaked out by the main stream media. U.S. Majority Senate leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) even used Rocha's letter to show support for Trump's immigration reform plan after the government shutdown, which was in contrary with the National LULAC mandate to support a Clean DREAM Act.
In 2015, Rocha was elected National LULAC President, but the year before in New York during the 85th National Convention, the elections were cancelled to prevent any candidate other than from Texas to be elected as president. In LULAC's 89th history, no president from any other state or Puerto Rico other than from Texas have been elected as president to the National LULAC.
In brief: Luis Roberto Verá Jr. who was the election judge at the 85th National LULAC Convention in 2014 decided along with former termed-out National LULAC President Margaret Moran to cancel the elections because Rocha who was running for president in 2014 might not win. It was the first time, that a LULAC National Convention was ever canceled in 85 years. Verá argued that the elections were canceled because of a filed TRO in New York.
Verá was also the election judge at the Salt Lake City 86th National LULAC Convention as well. Verá should have recused himself for conflict of interest from the election, since Rocha was running again. Rocha, Verá and Moran had very close working ties.
Rocha received 385 votes and Magdalena "Maggie" Rivera from Illinois received 160 votes in 2015. In 2014, Rivera was elected President by the membership in NY, but Moran, Verá and Wilkes failed to recognize her election to office. Two lawsuits were filed in Texas and New York pertaining to 2014 elections. Apparently, Moran illegally stayed in office for a fifth term to prevent an outsider other than a candidate from Texas to take office as president of the National LULAC.
Rocha's term will expire in July, if he remains in office. A National LULAC president can only run and get elected to four terms, according to its organization's Constitution and by-laws.
Darryl Morin from Wisconsin, the former Midwest Vice-president of LULAC has announced that he is a candidate for president of the National LULAC, but if the National LULAC keeps its tradition from electing candidates from other states other than from Texas, Morin or any other candidate outside Texas will probably not succeed. Morin in 2014 resigned shortly after the cancelation of the annual elections, but later recinded his resignation after Moran convinced him to stay on to support her decision to stay for a 5th term as LULAC president.
Morin posted a Facebook video on his account that explained what actually happened in Washington, D.C. when the LULAC National Board met, the resignation of Wilkes and Morin also confirmed the "corruption of principle" by Rocha and his followers. Rocha has agreed to rescind the restraining order as long as the National Board backed away from removing him and let him serve his full term, including for Joe Henry, the National LULAC Vice-president of the Midwest to stop writing negative articles about Rocha. Rocha has endorsed Domingo Garcia, a Dallas, Texas attorney for National LULAC President, according to Morin. If Garcia is elected in July during the annual National Convention, he will definitely follow the long line of those elected before him that no outsider from Texas will get elected as LULAC National President confirming the long standing corruption within the National LULAC. Garcia's supporters have threaten Morin including other members at the National level and indicated for him to pull out from the race to become the next president at LULAC. Morin has confirmed that he is a candidate for president of the National LULAC.
Verá was also the election judge at the Salt Lake City 86th National LULAC Convention as well. Verá should have recused himself for conflict of interest from the election, since Rocha was running again. Rocha, Verá and Moran had very close working ties.
Rocha received 385 votes and Magdalena "Maggie" Rivera from Illinois received 160 votes in 2015. In 2014, Rivera was elected President by the membership in NY, but Moran, Verá and Wilkes failed to recognize her election to office. Two lawsuits were filed in Texas and New York pertaining to 2014 elections. Apparently, Moran illegally stayed in office for a fifth term to prevent an outsider other than a candidate from Texas to take office as president of the National LULAC.
Rocha's term will expire in July, if he remains in office. A National LULAC president can only run and get elected to four terms, according to its organization's Constitution and by-laws.
Darryl Morin from Wisconsin, the former Midwest Vice-president of LULAC has announced that he is a candidate for president of the National LULAC, but if the National LULAC keeps its tradition from electing candidates from other states other than from Texas, Morin or any other candidate outside Texas will probably not succeed. Morin in 2014 resigned shortly after the cancelation of the annual elections, but later recinded his resignation after Moran convinced him to stay on to support her decision to stay for a 5th term as LULAC president.
Morin posted a Facebook video on his account that explained what actually happened in Washington, D.C. when the LULAC National Board met, the resignation of Wilkes and Morin also confirmed the "corruption of principle" by Rocha and his followers. Rocha has agreed to rescind the restraining order as long as the National Board backed away from removing him and let him serve his full term, including for Joe Henry, the National LULAC Vice-president of the Midwest to stop writing negative articles about Rocha. Rocha has endorsed Domingo Garcia, a Dallas, Texas attorney for National LULAC President, according to Morin. If Garcia is elected in July during the annual National Convention, he will definitely follow the long line of those elected before him that no outsider from Texas will get elected as LULAC National President confirming the long standing corruption within the National LULAC. Garcia's supporters have threaten Morin including other members at the National level and indicated for him to pull out from the race to become the next president at LULAC. Morin has confirmed that he is a candidate for president of the National LULAC.
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