City Council in transition, swear-in ceremony tomorrow

A new mayor and four city representatives will be sworn in Tuesday morning.

With a majority of the representatives being new, council could change in the direction they were heading.

“Unfortunately there was a dark cloud hanging over City Hall,” Rep. Claudia Ordaz-Perez said. “I think now is a good time to start over.”

While Ordaz-Perez is welcoming the change, incumbent representatives who are leaving have a different perspective.

“I kind of have mixed emotions,” said Rep. Carl Robinson, who termed out. “All good things must come to an end.”

“It is time to move on,” ousted City Rep. Lily Limon said. “I wish the next rep. the best of luck because it is a very difficult job.”

ABC-7 reporter Evan Folan caught up with newly elected City Rep. Cassandra Hernandez-Brown who was cleaning the office of Rep. Jim Tolbert.

“I am nervous because I don’t know everyone yet and I am trying to figure out who everyone is and what the dynamics will be,” she said. However, she said she has hit the ground running since winning the election. “What it comes down to is you, as city reps, no one is here to help you,” Hernandez-Brown said. “You’re here to work with your rep and capture the information you need and that transition is what you make it.” Hernandez-Brown says Acosta was helpful to pass along her old files.

Other representative-elects didn’t follow suit. Limon and Robinson said neither of the two newly elected officials reached out for their files.

Robinson gave his two cents on the future of council. “There is always a learning curve, no matter who you are or how smart you are,” he said. “You have to get your feet on the ground, roll your sleeves up and get to work.”