Tejano History
Regidor
Tejanos |
REGIDOR. The regidor served as an official on the ayuntamiento, the Spanish town council, which functioned as the primary component of Spanish municipal administration. The council, known also as the cabildo, was composed of regidors, the alcalde, and assorted other city officials. The number of regidors ranged from four to twelve, depending on the size of the municipality. Spanish law provided for the annual election of regidors, but elections were often not held. Although some regidors were popularly elected, the offices were often sold to the highest bidder, and the proceeds went to the royal government, not to the local municipality. Regulations required regidors to be landholders in the town in which they served. They could not involve themselves in areas where there might be a conflict of interest.
Full article on the Texas State Historical Association's Handbook of Texas Online