Socorro City Councilman Misses Meeting, Again

A regularly scheduled meeting in Socorro was unusually quite Thursday night.

Citizens and council members got straight to business, no fireworks.

But again, missing from the meeting, Councilman Luis Varela.

“Luis Varela is absent,” assistant city clerk Olivia Navarro said several times as council members approved several agenda items.

The council man has been absent from every regular and special meeting since his arrest in November.

“Since the drug bust, we have begun un-excusing his absences,” said District 4 Councilman Jesus Gandara Jr.

Varela is accused of trying to sell pot to undercover deputies and having cocaine in his truck.

Councilman at large, Guillermo Madrid Jr. has since stepped in to represent District 1 citizens and take over Varela’s duties.

“But I have no problems with that, it is my responsibility and I’m more than happy to take care of the issues,” said Madrid.

City officials said depending on the number of Varela’s unexcused absences, council members could take action to unseat the councilman.

“If a council member is absent for three or more consecutive regular council meetings in any 12 month period, (council members would) declare that position vacant,” said city attorney, Jerry Wallace.

Varela’s vacancy would then be filled through a special election.

“But I’m sure the District 1 citizens will pay a lot more attention to who their candidates are this time around,” Gandara said.

Declaring Varela’s position vacand would have to be placed on the agenda, Wallace said.

ABC-7 tried to leave a message for Varela, but the voice mailbox for the number we have for the councilman was full.

City officials said they are looking into how many meetings Varela has missed and plan to take the appropriate action based on the results.

As for the special election for the recall of Varela and Socorro mayor Willie Gandara Sr., a date has still not been set.