Ex-El Paso mayor starts effort to recall city reps who voted in favor of ballpark

A former El Paso mayor is leading the charge in a fight to oust City Rep. Cortney Niland.

Ray Salazar was El Paso’s mayor from 1977 to 1979. On Monday he filed a notice- of-intent with the city clerk’s office to recall Niland.

But that’s just the beginning. Salazar said he plans to recall all six City Council members who voted in favor of the ballpark proposal.

He said they have failed the community and feels the voters should have had a say.

“This is the worst council I’ve ever seen in the history of this city … because they don’t listen to the voters of this community,” he said.

Niland responded in a statement.

“It’s unfortunate the vocal opposition is trying to hijack the election with these tactics. I’m hopeful most El Pasoans understand what is truly at stake here is the direction of our city,” Niland said in her statement.

Salazar has 60 days to collect 385 signatures from registered voters in Niland’s district.