Your trusted source for community news
Questions about a former board member's residency prompted a disagreement between Farmers Branch council members Lupe Gonzalez and Elizabeth Villafranca on Nov. 3 over eligibility rules and the treatment of city volunteers.
The discussion centered on Melissa Lopez, a former member of the Farmers Branch Local Government Corporation board who had been living in Carrollton while her family's Farmers Branch home was being replaced.
According to an Oct. 15 email from City Manager Ben Williamson, read aloud by Villafranca, Lopez relocated to Carrollton in November 2025 after the home where she lived with her parents was demolished through the Dallas County Housing Replacement Program.
Lopez told city officials she expected to return to Farmers Branch by Dec. 31, 2026, when her lease expired, according to the email.
Gonzalez requested the agenda item to discuss residency information connected to an earlier ethics complaint involving Lopez. She said she wanted clarification about whether someone living outside Farmers Branch could continue serving on a city board.
Mayor Terry Lynne explained that most city boards require members to live in Farmers Branch, although some exceptions exist. He said Lopez had already submitted her resignation, making further consideration of her eligibility unnecessary.
Villafranca questioned the need for continued discussion after Williamson had explained Lopez's circumstances. She expressed concern that the scrutiny could discourage residents from volunteering for city boards.
"People are hesitant to serve because we are politicizing just about everything," Villafranca said.
Villafranca also raised concerns about personal disagreements potentially influencing how council members approach matters involving residents. She described the scrutiny of Lopez as harassment and intimidation, an assessment Gonzalez disputed.
Gonzalez acknowledged attending school with Lopez but said their past relationship had no bearing on her residency inquiry.
She also questioned the accuracy of the information Lopez provided when applying for the position.
"She lied on her application that she lived in the city when she didn't," Gonzalez said.
Villafranca disagreed.
"She did not lie," she said.
Villafranca referred to a previous council discussion about whether voter registration, a driver's license and vehicle registration could help establish residency despite a temporary move. She argued that Lopez's relocation while her family's home was being replaced did not necessarily mean she had misrepresented her residency.
The council made no determination about Lopez's eligibility or the accuracy of her application, and no vote was taken. The discussion did not establish when Lopez applied or what address she listed.
Lopez did not address the council during the discussion. Her explanation of the move was presented through Williamson's email. The meeting did not establish whether the residency questions influenced her decision to resign.
Lynne said Lopez could seek another appointment after returning to Farmers Branch. Council members also confirmed that applicants may be considered for board vacancies outside the city's regular summer appointment cycle.
"She is certainly welcome to reapply at that time," Lynne said.
Editor's Note: The Branch Herald filed an open records request on Oct. 23 regarding an ethics complaint filed against a member of the Farmers Branch Local Government Corporation and has not received documents from the city in response.
Local News Matters.
