RAYMONDVILLE, Texas - The embattled executive director of the Willacy County Navigation District as resigned from his job managing Port Mansfield.
Ron Mills turned in his resignation following an executive session of the district board of commissioners held Oct. 22.
“Hallelujah!” some people in the audience exclaimed after the board voted to approve the action.
Mills’ employment contract was up for its annual evaluation by the board and it took place 30 minutes after he made his regular report during the monthly board meeting.
He gave an update on an Army Corps of Engineers dredging project and about easements on the east port subdivision.
Mills has tried to bring more commercial activity to Port Mansfield, such as container and barge traffic, as a means of improving job opportunities in one of the poorest counties in the state.
But he has been criticized by some local residents for the manner he has been running the port, for not living in Willacy County and for hiring people to market the port, among other things.
He even brought on board a son, paying him a $2,500 salary as a consultant for the port for several months, according to the Concerned Citizens of Port Mansfield.
The organization has been highly critical of Mills and has been calling for his ousting as port director.
CCPM is the main force behind a campaign to incorporate Port Mansfield and one reason behind that has been attributed to Mills’ handling of the port.
Early this year, the organization sent a signed petition to Willacy County Judge Aurelio “Keter” Guerra calling for a Nov. 4 election and it was approved.
Mills’ resignation took effect immediately.
Ernesto “Lefty” Cavazos, a board member, said Mills decided to resign on his own.
Asked if he was under pressure, he said, “No. We did not do it. He did it. He did a lot of good things but that the way it’s. I think it was time for him to look for greener pastures.”
Eric Kennedy, the board chairman, could not be reached for comments.
Mills belongs to a number of organizations, including the American Beach and Shoreline Preservation Association, Lower Rio Grande Regional Police Academy, Lower Rio Valley Development Council, Texas Ports Association and the American Retirees Association.
His resignation was received with relief by some of the people who regularly attend the board meetings.
Some of them said the board was going to extend his contract, while others were not surprised he resigned.
“We think it is good,” Miller Bassler said. “We are moving in the right direction in Port Mansfield.”
Others just said “Hallelujah” as they were leaving.
Editor's Note: Reporter Steve Taylor contributed to this story from Harlingen, Texas.
