Petitions In Recall Effort Subpoenaed

The petitions submitted in the proposed recall of Mayor John Cook and two city representatives have been subpoenaed, according to an employee at the City Clerk’s Office.

A spokeswoman with the El Paso District Attorney’s Office could not comment on if a grand jury had subpoenaed the petitions but did say the criminal investigation continues.

Word of Life Pastor Tom Brown, who leads the recall efforts, was at the City Clerk’s Office Thursday afternoon inquiring about the recall petitions.

Brown was asked by ABC-7 if he was frustrated with the City Clerk.

“No, not at all,” Brown said.

The Eighth Court of Appeals ruled unanimously on Feb. 17 in Mayor John Cook’s favor and determined petitioners trying to oust him out of office broke the law. The ruling effectively stops the recall election from happening.

Cook has contended that petitioners broke the law by using the corporate resources of Word of Life Church and other churches in the recall election efforts.

Originally, El Pasoans for Traditional Family Values was classified as a PAC for the ballot initiative meant to take away the health insurance of gay and unwed partners of city employees, not as a recall group.

Brown has said petitioners plan to appeal to the Texas Supreme Court.