CALEXICO — City Council will revisit the tumultuous issue of who will be the city’s mayor with two related items on the agenda tonight.
Councilman Luis Castro was voted out of his position of mayor at the previous City Council meeting in a 3-2 vote, but has requested, along with Councilman Bill Hodge, to be reinstated.
After prolonged discussion over the issue at the Jan. 10 meeting, it was also decided to wait until Tuesday to decide who would replace Castro and the mayor pro tem position if needed.
Mayor Pro Tem Daniel Romero said he didn’t understand the purpose of requesting the reinstatement item on the agenda when Castro, like any of the council members, could be nominated for the position.
The mayor position is not a directly elected position so the mayor and mayor pro tem positions are appointed by the City Council’s majority vote.
For Hodge, he said it’s a matter of consistency.
“We need to move forward, but at the same time, I need to be consistent on my convictions and principals,” he said. “I’ve stood up and supported Castro in his position as mayor. It would be contradictory to stand up and support him one week and then not the next week.”
“(Tonight) should put everything to rest on where we’re at on that issue. It’s not so much supporting Castro but standing by my convictions,” Hodge said.
Multiple phone calls to Castro were unreturned, and there are no backup documents to the agenda item requesting reinstatement.
Councilwoman Martiza Hurtado is the one who requested the agenda item that voted Castro out of the position Jan. 10.
“I’m surprised he felt that was necessary when there was already a decision made by the majority of the council. My position will not change, because I still believe what the result of that meeting was the correct thing to do,” she said.
“I would like to ensure that the citizens of Calexico understand that there are times when unpopular actions are going to take place that need to occur, and one of those times is now. With the enormous amount of projects before the council at this time, we require nothing but professionalism. I expect that a change of leadership will ensure that our meetings are conducted as they should be, respecting the institution that we are.”
Hurtado, Romero and Councilman John Moreno were the three votes that pulled Castro out of the mayor position.
“I’m looking to put this item behind us so we can take care of business and move forward,” Moreno said. “It’s been a very awkward situation for many of us, but I know we will move forward.”
If you go
What — Calexico City Council meeting
When — 6:30 p.m. today
Where — Calexico City Hall, 608 Heber Ave. in Calexico
Staff Writer Chelcey Adami can be reached at 760-337-3452 or cadami@ivpressonline.com
Councilman Luis Castro was voted out of his position of mayor at the previous City Council meeting in a 3-2 vote, but has requested, along with Councilman Bill Hodge, to be reinstated.
After prolonged discussion over the issue at the Jan. 10 meeting, it was also decided to wait until Tuesday to decide who would replace Castro and the mayor pro tem position if needed.
Mayor Pro Tem Daniel Romero said he didn’t understand the purpose of requesting the reinstatement item on the agenda when Castro, like any of the council members, could be nominated for the position.
The mayor position is not a directly elected position so the mayor and mayor pro tem positions are appointed by the City Council’s majority vote.
For Hodge, he said it’s a matter of consistency.
“We need to move forward, but at the same time, I need to be consistent on my convictions and principals,” he said. “I’ve stood up and supported Castro in his position as mayor. It would be contradictory to stand up and support him one week and then not the next week.”
“(Tonight) should put everything to rest on where we’re at on that issue. It’s not so much supporting Castro but standing by my convictions,” Hodge said.
Multiple phone calls to Castro were unreturned, and there are no backup documents to the agenda item requesting reinstatement.
Councilwoman Martiza Hurtado is the one who requested the agenda item that voted Castro out of the position Jan. 10.
“I’m surprised he felt that was necessary when there was already a decision made by the majority of the council. My position will not change, because I still believe what the result of that meeting was the correct thing to do,” she said.
“I would like to ensure that the citizens of Calexico understand that there are times when unpopular actions are going to take place that need to occur, and one of those times is now. With the enormous amount of projects before the council at this time, we require nothing but professionalism. I expect that a change of leadership will ensure that our meetings are conducted as they should be, respecting the institution that we are.”
Hurtado, Romero and Councilman John Moreno were the three votes that pulled Castro out of the mayor position.
“I’m looking to put this item behind us so we can take care of business and move forward,” Moreno said. “It’s been a very awkward situation for many of us, but I know we will move forward.”
If you go
What — Calexico City Council meeting
When — 6:30 p.m. today
Where — Calexico City Hall, 608 Heber Ave. in Calexico
Staff Writer Chelcey Adami can be reached at 760-337-3452 or cadami@ivpressonline.com
