Tarrant Appraisal board will meet after local leaders call for firing of chief appraiser

The Tarrant Appraisal District Board of Directors will meet to respond to public calls for the termination of Chief Appraiser Jeff Law and discuss the preliminary findings of an investigation into comments made by the former head of information systems.

The board tentatively plans to meet at 7:30 a.m. Sept. 14, according to board attorney Matthew Tepper of Round Rock. In a statement, Tepper said this was the earliest that all board members were available to meet.

“Members of the TAD Board have been receiving multiple communications from the public and the taxing entities,” the statement read. “The Board takes these comments very seriously and is anxious to meet to address these concerns.”

Law did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment.

At its most recent meeting on Aug. 11, the board took a vote of confidence in Law. The vote passed 3-2, with DeOtte and Vince Puente voting against the resolution.

Calls for a change in leadership at the agency reached a fever pitch after the Star-Telegram reported that Cal Wood was recorded saying he supports lying to the media about TAD’s ongoing tech issues. As a result of the Star-Telegram’s inquiry, Wood was suspended pending an investigation before he was terminated Friday as head of information systems.

In a brief statement, TAD said Wood’s comments do not reflect the values of the agency.

But, for local political leaders and their constituents, Wood’s firing isn’t enough. They want to see further leadership change at the agency, which is responsible for appraising property in the county.

The Tarrant Councy commissioners and Mansfield City Council passed votes of no confidence in Law this week.

The mayors of Colleyville, Keller and Southlake have also pledged to take votes of no confidence in Law, calling the latest scandal “outrageous and a breach of public trust.”