City Rep Castro’s Reelection Bid Hits Snag

EL PASO, Tx. – Melina Castro, City Representative for District 4, plans to run again for her seat. Our news partners at newspapertree.com broke the story that Castro recently turned in a petition so she can get on the ballot, but it was rejected by the city.

The reason: only 2 out of the 50 signatures she turned in were valid. ABC-7’s Celina Avila tried asking her what happened, below is the exchange:

“Hi, Can I talk to you really quick?,” asked ABC seven reporter Celina Avila.

” Give me just a second because they’re right there,” said City rep Melina Castro.

” Can we talk to you?, ” repeated Avila.

” Sure, give me just a second,” said Castro.

City Rep Melina Castro arrived late to the Northeast Democrats forum for candidates of District 4 and said she would talk to us later. During a lull in the meeting, Avila again tried to talk to Castro.

“Melina can I ask you a question?,” asked reporter Celina Avila.

“…And Ma’am for your information…, ” but when we tried asking her again, she ignored us.

City clerk Richarda Duffy Momsen sent hera letter stating that Castro must re-submit her petition to get on the ballot.

Out of the 50 signatures she submitted –only two were confirmed to be registered voters in Castro’s district.

Momsen tells ABC-7, ” I found it to be insufficient because it didn’t meet the threshold.”

Candidates in district four need 28 valid signatures or must pay $250. Momsen adds, ” Most people do pay the filing fee.”

But City Rep Castro may be trying to save money since she has been ordered to pay the city $32,000 after an unsuccessful lawsuit she brought against city attorney Charlie McNabb.

One resident tells ABC-7, “I just think she made a mistake, she let somebody else do her thing for her and what they did, they messed up.”

Again, we don’t know Castro’s explanation for the signature oversight…because again, she wouldn’t talk to us.

ABC-7reporter Celina Avila left Castro her number and asked her to callthe stationafter the meeting. As of Friday, we have yet to hear from her.