EPISD: Attorney Takes Issue With Mayor’s School Speech

A recent school appearance by the city’s embattled mayor has a local attorney crying foul.

Mayor John Cook was invited to Tippin Elementary School on Wednesday. The northwest El Paso campus asked Cook to take part in its “Take-Your-Dad-To-School Day” festivities.

A spokeswoman for the El Paso Independent School District told ABC-7 that attorney Theresa Caballero informed them that she was concerned by the mayor’s participation.

Caballero represents Tom Brown, one of the organizers behind the recall effort to remove Cook.

“Ms. Caballero called and left a message for the Interim Superintendent and the Tippin Principal,” the district said in a statement. “She felt that a politician facing a recall election should not be given a forum.”

Cook told ABC-7 his speech was not political.

“I use every opportunity that I can to meet with people and the public,” he said. “I didn’t even use the ‘R’ word,” Cook added, referring to the recall.

EPISD said Caballero also requested “equal time” to address the parents at Tippin.

ABC-7 was unable to reach Caballero for comment on Wednesday and a call to her office on Friday was not returned.

Recall supporter and former El Paso city representative Nacho Padilla said the school could have avoided any controversy by simply choosing another official guest.

Tippin father Ken Melick said he took part in “Take-Your-Dad-To-School Day” and didn’t think the any of the mayor’s remarks were questionable.

“It was fine that he was here,” Melick said. “I don’t think it had anything to do with politics.”

The recall group is upset over a city council decision to overturn a voter-approved ordinance that would have taken away the health benefits of gay unmarried partners of city employees.

City leaders, including Cook, have said the ordinance was so vaguely written, it would have stripped away the benefits of dozens more unintended city-affiliated people who receive insurance.