GALENA PARK, Texas – Questions are mounting in Galena Park after the city’s mayor-elect says an expected transition of power has instead turned into confusion and uncertainty.
Mayor-elect Oscar Mireles told KPRC 2 he came to city hall Monday expecting to discuss next steps after winning the recent election. Instead, he says he learned the city secretary had abruptly resigned after more than two decades with the city.
“At some point during that day, we find out that the city secretary who’s been here for 22 years decided to abruptly quit,” Mireles said.
The situation escalated further when Mireles says he witnessed current Galena Park Mayor Esmeralda Moya and another man outside city hall loading items into a black pickup truck.
Video obtained by KPRC 2 shows a pickup truck loaded with filled trash bags outside city hall.
“I saw them take out one computer tower. My wife saw that they had a bag with documents in it,” Mireles said.
Mireles said he is not accusing anyone of wrongdoing but says the lack of communication surrounding the city’s transition has raised concerns among residents.
“I understand you have personal belongings. I don’t have a problem with that, but it’s just a lack of communication,” he said.
Election still awaiting official canvass
According to an email sent to Mireles by the city secretary, the election cannot yet be officially canvassed until provisional ballots and other outstanding ballots are reviewed, as required under Texas election law.
The email obtained by KPRC, states the following:
“Mr. Mireles,
Please see below the rules on when the canvassing will be held. The canvassing of the election cannot be done until the provisional ballots are returned from Harris County, which are normally returned within 2 or 3 business days and the ballot board convenes to approve or deny any provisional ballots. I will be posting the canvassing of the election to be held on May 13, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
The final canvass is the local canvass for cities, schools, and other local political subdivisions. Tex. Elec. ode § 67.005. The local canvass for the May 2, 2026 uniform election must be held not earlier than the third day after election day (Tuesday, May 5, 2026) and not later than the eleventh day after election day (Wednesday, May 13, 2026). Tex. Elec. Code 67.003.
The canvass cannot occur until the early voting ballot board has: (1) qualified and counted all provisional ballots, if a provisional ballot has been cast in the election; (2) counted all timely received late-arriving ballots, including next business day, military and overseas ballots; and (3) counted all ballots contained in previously defective carrier envelopes which were corrected by voters by the required deadline. Tex. Elec. Code § 67.003.
Thank you,
Mayra Gonzales."
Mireles says the sudden resignation of the city secretary has left him uncertain about how the certification process will move forward.
“We’re just stuck. We’re waiting on the state to tell us what we need to do next,” said Mireles.
Under Texas law, election results are not considered official until they are formally canvassed by the appropriate governing body — a process that serves as the state’s certification of election results.
State law generally requires the canvass to take place no later than the 11th day after Election Day.
Concerns over transparency
Mireles says part of his motivation for running for mayor stemmed from what he describes as a lack of transparency inside city government.
He claims some residents felt excluded from city meetings and city decision-making.
“It’s 2026. You have no excuse on why you can’t put the meetings online,” Mireles said.
KPRC 2 has been attempting to obtain records from the City of Galena Park since January but has not received a response.
Under the Texas Public Information Act, governmental bodies are generally required to either release requested public information or seek an attorney general ruling within 10 business days.
KPRC 2 reached out to Mayor Moya and the city secretary regarding the transition process, the video outside city hall and the status of city records, but did not receive a response.
The official canvassing of the election is expected to take place May 13.