HOUSTON -- There's been a big development Saturday in the controversy surrounding the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia was supposed to serve as the co-grand marshal of Saturday morning's parade, but he withdrew after mounting concerns about the lack of diversity within the rodeo.

Garcia was still in the parade but instead of riding alongside Judge Ed Emmett -- the other co-grand marshal -- the sheriff rode with his deputies in the mounted patrol.

Garcia said his withdrawal as grand marshal does not mean he's taking sides.

"I think the sheriff of Harris County needs to serve all the people of Harris County, and that's what I'm doing. I think it's important for me to ride with my deputies," Garcia said. "This is the first year I've been in the parade as a sheriff, and the amount of patrol there is a hidden jewel within the sheriff's department and I want to show them off. I want to ride with my guys."

On Friday, state Sen. Mario Gallegos filed a bill that would force the rodeo to open its books, add minorities to its board and contract with minority-owned businesses. Minority leaders plan to protest outside Reliant Park on March 13.

Here is the complete text of a letter from the chairman of the Board of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo:

From: Butch Robinson, Chairman of the Board, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

To: Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo volunteers, members and supporters

Last year, you may recall that there were a few protests and press conferences held by elected officials and activists over the lack of a major venue for the Tejano music genre on Go Tejano Day.

The controversy expanded to include questions concerning the awarding of scholarships and contracts to minority vendors, the ethnic diversity of the Show's leadership and employee base, and transparency regarding the use and distribution of Show revenues.

We did our best to answer the questions openly and honestly, but a number of misconceptions and untruths about the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo continue to circulate.

State Sen. Mario Gallegos led the protests last year and is continuing his efforts in 2009. Earlier today, he held a press conference leveling many of the same allegations. There may be protests during the Show and efforts to promote legislation that could harm the good work we do in providing scholarships and entertainment, and promoting Texas traditions.

The Show's leadership has met on numerous occasions with Sen. Gallegos, and various Hispanic and other minority leaders in an effort to resolve the controversy, and we will continue to do so in the future. We realize that we can always improve our outreach throughout the Houston community and the state in an effort to better inform people about all the good things the Show and its members and volunteers do, and we intend to do so. And, we'll continue to promote higher education, provide quality family entertainment, contribute to the economy, and honor the many cultures and traditions that make Texas such a great state.

We are sending you this memorandum to make you aware of the situation and explain the facts so that you will know the truth and perhaps help us correct the misconceptions and uphold the reputation and honor of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

In the spirit of full disclosure, be aware that I'm not an unbiased observer - I'm one of 21,000 Show volunteers - mostly Houstonians just like you. I've worked my way up through the volunteer system to my position as chairman of the board, and there's one significant reason that I have contributed so much time, money and energy to this organization. Since 1932, the Show has committed more than $235 million to the youth of Texas.

Our largest scholarship program awards four-year, $15,000 scholarships to every public school in Harris, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Liberty, Montgomery and Waller counties. From 2006 to 2008, 915 scholarships have been awarded in the Houston metropolitan area, totaling nearly $12 million in support, with more than half going to minority students. The breakdown reflects that 28.7 percent went to Hispanics, 18.1 percent to African-American students, 9.0 percent to Asian-Americans, and 44.1 percent to Anglos, closely mirroring the demographics of the graduating high school seniors in the Houston metropolitan area.

Hispanics serve on a majority of the Show's nearly 100 committees and hold leadership positions on nearly half. Many are active members of the Show's board of directors. Rudy Cano, Hispanic, and Warner Ervin, African-American, are two of the Show's officers. Between them, they have leadership over a significant part of the Show's committees.

Anyone can get involved in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo who is willing to give time, money and service, and there are many opportunities for moving into leadership positions for people whose experience and involvement with the Show merit it.

As we've repeated many times, Go Tejano Day entertainment selection is based on market research, surveys, media involvement and consultation, record sales, and consumer input. We want to sell tickets and fill Reliant Stadium with enthusiastic rodeo and music fans. The record number of people who continue to attend Go Tejano Day attests to the fact that we're doing just that.

Transparency isn't really a matter of choice, and no additional legislation that singles out our organization is needed. As a charity, the Show is bound by IRS regulations to provide specific financial information in order to meet compliance. Also, the Show complies with the Texas-Not-For-Profit Information Act that ensures the transparency of non-for-profits in the state.

Our purchasing and contracting programs are open to competing bids from everyone, and for contracts over specific amounts, we require bids. We want to support small businesses in Houston, and we'll continue to do so.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo will continue to do what we've always done - put on a great Show and award thousands of scholarships to deserving Houston-area students.

I'm well aware that many of you are already Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo volunteers, as well as representatives of the Hispanic, African-American, Asian-American and other communities that make up our melting pot city. We thank you for your continuing support of the Show's mission, goals and purposes, and we appreciate your help in spreading the truth about the organization.

As Chairman of the Board, I've had the special privilege of meeting many of the students, with their parents, who have received Show scholarships. These are incredible young people who are getting a chance that they may not have otherwise had to attend college. Many are the first generation in their family to have this opportunity.

Again, it's why I do what I do as a volunteer. Whether it's a Houston high school senior who is getting the chance of a lifetime to further his education; a fifth-grader from the Texas Panhandle who is showing her lamb; or an elementary school student learning to read through the Rodeo Institute for Teacher Excellence, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo touches the lives of Texas kids. Join me in celebrating the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, an organization that represents everything that is great about Houston and Texas!