Tarrant County’s troubled appraisal district has fired its IT director, and a growing list of elected officials are calling for the agency’s scandal-plagued top executive to be next.
The Tarrant Appraisal District, which sets property values for taxing purposes, fired Director of Information Systems Cal Wood on Friday.
Wood had been suspended a few days earlier after he was caught on tape suggesting “creating a false narrative” for the media over TAD’s technology failures. Issues with the agency’s new website launched in April prevented property owners from challenging their appraisals, generating a flood of complaints.
In the wake of this latest scandal, a growing list of local officials are calling on TAD’s board of directors to oust Chief Appraiser Jeff Law, who oversees the agency’s operations:
- Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare
- Keller Mayor Armin Mizani
- Southlake Mayor John Huffman
- Colleyville Mayor Bobby Lindamood
- Mansfield City Councilman Casey Lewis
- Keller ISD Board President Charles Randklev
Mansfield City Council will consider a resolution casting a “vote of no confidence” in Law at their August 28 meeting.
Tarrant County will consider a similar vote of no confidence during the August 29 Commissioners Court meeting.
The mayors of Keller, Southlake, and Colleyville said they will also consider votes of no confidence in Law at their upcoming city council meetings in September.
Two TAD directors, Rich DeOtte and Vince Puente, already indicated they have no confidence in Law during the August 11 board meeting. Puente was added to the board earlier this year after then-chairman Kathyrn Wilemon was recalled.
The other three directors—Tony Pompa, Joe Ralph Martinez, and Jungus Jordan—approved a vote of confidence in Law, despite continuing scandals at the agency under his leadership.
All five seats are up for re-election by local taxing entities at the end of this year.
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