Group Submits Petitions To Recall Mayor, 2 City Reps

The group El Pasoans for Traditional Family Values early Thursday hand-delivered its petitions containing thousands of signatures it hopes will lead to the recall of Mayor John Cook and two city representatives.

More than 6,000 signatures were needed to recall the mayor and more than 600 each to recall city Reps. Susie Byrd and Steve Ortega, and those who led the drive are confident the city clerk will find many more than needed on the petitions turned in today.

According to the recall group, 12,878 signatures were collected to recall Cook; 1,137 to recall Ortega; and 1,093 to recall Byrd. The recall effort was organized after their vote to overturn an earlier vote by the people and re-establish health benefits to gay and unmarried partners of city employees.

During a news conference Thursday afternoon, El Pasoans for Traditional Family Values, which headed up the petition effort, those on hand shouted at the media. The petitions, if verified, would lead to an election to decide the fate of Cook, Ortega and Byrd likely in the summer.

Some petitioners held signs that showed a bloody Mayor Cook that some felt advocated violence against the mayor.

“Three people do not overthrow the vote of forty-something-thousand people here in the city of El Paso. We’re not in Juarez; this is El Paso, Texas,” said Ignacio Padilla, a former city representative.

Cook said the special election could cost $900,000.

“We’re going to have to bring somebody in to hold special elections, probably in May,” he said

Members of the recall group say the most it would cost is $40,000.