Socorro City Council Meeting Gets Heated

Some Socorro City Council members want to see Mayor Guillermo “Willie” Gandara Sr. step down. He wants to see several council members resign.

Both issues were on Thursday night’s meeting.

The atmosphere inside city hall was tense. It was a very eventful city council meeting as emotions ran high – starting from the beginning of the meeting.

“It’s 6 o’clock. The meeting starts at 6 o’clock,” Gandara said.

The meeting started and so did the chaos.

“They’re asking me to resign, and I’m asking them to resign and they’re not here,” questioned Gandara.

With only two councilors on time, the mayor adjourned the meeting. “With that said, I’m going to adjourn this meeting,” he said.

Within the following 15 minutes, council members Gloria Rodriguez and Guillermo Madrid arrived.

Most citizens asked councilors to work together when they addressed them from the podium.

“I think the city is really tired of it,” said Joe DeTuro as members in the audience shouted “yes” behind him.

DeTuro explained he and other citizen have had enough of the infighting. “We can for the first time recall everybody – not just one person – the whole city council. We have the power to do it,” DeTuro said as the audience applauded.

City councilors unanimously agreed to disapprove of the agenda item asking for the resignation of city council.

Then the resignation of the mayor was discussed. A resignation requested by Councilwoman Mary Garcia. She explained her concern is the negative attention the city is getting as a result of Gandara’s’ indictment in the FBI’s public corruption investigation.

Again, audience members voiced their concerns. “A person is innocent till proven guilty,” said Ralph Duran.

Then councilors spoke. “You have a moral obligation to the city of Socorro,” said Garcia.

“I’m not going to resign,” said Gandara several times throughout the discussion.

City councilors, except Luis Varela, approved of Gandara’s possible resignation.

But the mayor told ABC-7 he’s not going anywhere. “I’m just working for the people. Nothing else,” said Gandara.

Discussion of the interim city manager’s position was also on the agenda. Councilors, except Varela, agreed to delete the item.

Manny Soto Jr. will stay in that position until a permanent city manager is chosen.