City Rep. Limon apologizes for behavior during last week’s contentious meeting

After calling a fellow City Representative a ‘brat and cry baby’ last week, City Rep. Lily Limon apologized at Tuesday’s council meeting.

She apologized for her “poor word choices,” saying they were spurred by what Limon “perceived as a personal attack.”

“I will not let it happen again,” Limon told the public and the rest of council.

In the most contentious exchange yet between her and City Rep. Cortney Niland, Limon last week called Niland a bully. The argument started when Niland interrupted the city council meeting to ask the City Attorney what she could do about Limon recording her with her cell phone. “It’s very uncomfortable,” Niland told City Attorney Sylvia Firth.

Limon then showed the public and the council her cell phones to demonstrate the devices were off and she was not recording Niland.

Mayor Pro-Tempore Michiel Noe then admonished Limon, telling her to “just do your job” and not to start arguments with Niland. He also asked Niland to do her best to ignore Limon. Limon took issue with Noe’s admonishment saying Niland had instigated the situation.

Niland last week declined an interview about her interruption to the council meeting.

“While I may not always understand my colleagues positions and actions, I respect their role as elected leaders and the citizens we all represent,” said Limon on Tuesday.

Limon’s comment were followed by applause from the public in the city council chambers.

El Paso resident, Gordon Thatcher, commended Limon for apologizing. “I thought that took a lot of courage. We accept your apology,” he told Limon and the council during public comment.

“We represent El Paso and we have some very important items and we have to keep focus,” said Mayor Oscar Leeser.

Limon said she would stick with the issues moving forward. “We have much to discuss today and I look forward to giving my undivided attention to council’s business.”

Niland did not look at Limon during the apology and did not comment on the issue during the meeting but later tweeted at Limon: “I’m truly humbled by your apology today & look forward to working with you to advance El Paso. #itsallgoodelpaso.”