Bill Goodwin agrees not to assert place on Bee Cave City Council while case on appeal

City Manager Clint Garza said the city's position is the district court made an error in deciding in favor of Goodwin and intends to have the matter decided in its appeal.

“The city remains confident that council, as a home-rule city, was operating within the charter when it voted to remove Bill Goodwin,” Garza said.

Council members voted unanimously June 17, 2020, to remove Goodwin from the City Council. Goodwin’s attorney, Bill Aleshire, said his client is allowing the appeals to play out in court.

“Bill recognizes they have appealed the final judgment, and he agrees to not assert a present right, right now, to serve on the City Council until the appeals are settled,” Aleshire said.

The dispute between Goodwin and council members also involves a second legal action against Council Member Courtney Hohl, who stepped up to the dais in the wake of Goodwin’s departure and a special called election.

Aleshire said Hohl was misinformed when told there was an available seat on the council and that Goodwin has filed suit against Hohl in an attempt to have the court rule whether he or Hohl has title to the council seat with a term expiring in May 2022.

“To this day we say [Goodwin] is not even out of office,” Aleshire said.

A ruling out of the 53rd District Court found the court lacked jurisdiction to decide the matter. That decision from the district court is now on appeal by Goodwin before the 3rd Court of Appeals.