This op-ed was published by The Dallas Morning News

Earlier this month, the Tarrant County Commissioners Court sent a clear message to their constituents: We don’t want to hear what you have to say. Led by County Judge Tim O’Hare, along with Commissioners Manny Ramirez and Matt Krause, our Commissioners Court voted to harshly limit opportunities for public speech and deny us the chance to hear briefings on important issues like the County Jail.

Again and again, this Commissioners Court has run roughshod over the public’s right to speak to preserve the court’s own power. Until December 2023, the court met weekly; today, it meets only once a month. In September 2024, the commissioners approved a 3% pay raise for themselves. That’s not the hallmark of transparent, responsive government.

We’re familiar with these power grabs. Last year, our organizations sued the Tarrant County Commissioners Court for its unfair and discriminatory precinct map that we believe stripped away representation for Black and Latino communities. The rushed redistricting was followed by the closure of polling places across the county, a move that hurt the residents commissioners should be serving.

We alleged the map had been adopted in secrecy and violated the Texas Open Meetings Act. We also argued that the commissioners had violated the Texas Constitution by failing to consider any factor other than partisanship, thus ignoring their legal duty to consider their constituents’ needs. On Nov. 28, in a one-page order, a district judge allowed the map to proceed. No legal reasoning was provided.

Nevertheless, after much deliberation, LULAC Council 4568, the League of Women Voters of Tarrant County and counsel have made the difficult decision not to appeal this decision to avoid enshrining a misunderstanding of the law or constitutionalizing injustice. Timing matters, and sometimes delayed legal action can be a form of protection. We aren’t giving up on our legal reasoning, including our belief that the Texas Constitution protects Texans’ voting rights. It’s about waiting for the right opportunity to make the strongest case.

In the meantime, we won’t stop speaking up.

And in a major election year like 2026, the voices and votes of Tarrant County residents matter more than ever. Tarrant County residents deserve a fair shake, and we must demand fair representative government, including leaders that put community welfare first, listen to all constituents’ voices, and act courageously and selflessly. The League and LULAC are committed to the work of empowering voters and defending democracy, whether we are in the streets, in community centers, in Commissioners Court meetings or on college campuses. We will fight to make sure all communities can raise their voices, no matter how our own elected officials try to silence us.

There are many ways to get involved at this crucial time. Find opportunities to advocate and educate voters by joining organizations like the League of Women Voters and LULAC. Check that your voter registration is up to date, where and when to vote for the primary elections on March 3, and take your friends and neighbors with you to vote.

We know what it’s like to be disappointed by elected officials and the courts, but the fight doesn’t end with litigation. When we show up in our communities today, we set the stage for wins tomorrow.

Janet Mattern is president of the League of Women Voters of Tarrant County. Alberto Govea is the President of the League of United Latin American Citizens Council 4568.

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