UPDATE: City Representative Larry Romero’s resignation accepted

UPDATE: In a special meeting Friday afternoon, El Paso City Council unanimously voted to accept Larry Romero’s resignation.

City Representative Larry Romero officially resigned earlier this month when he turned in his official resignation letter to the Municipal Clerk’s Office.

Contrary to the resignation letter, Romero will remain on Council until replacement has been elected.

Romero’s letter states, “Based on consultation with my physicians and my family, my efforts and concentration need to be dedicated solely to my recovery and my health.”

This is following a stroke the District 2 representative reportedly had in December.

The letter states the resignation takes effect February 23, a day before the city will release the findings of an investigation into the search for a new financial adviser.

Romero and City Manager Tommy Gonzalez have been under the microscope for the process to hire a new financial adviser.

Earlier this month, the El Paso City Ethics Commission ruled Romero will still have to answer questions even with his resignation.

It gave City Manager Tommy Gonzalez and Romero until Feb. 16 to answer a set of questions relating to the investigation. Even with Romero’s resignation, the commission’s legal counsel Ross Fischer will still interview him.

“If you’re unethical in small things, its going to show up in big things,” said Jim Tolbert, who initially filed the complaint. “It usually results in favoritism, or entitling somebody to a special privilege, or a special favor. It’s just not right. In our society, everybody should be equal, and everybody should play by the rules.”

The commission is also directing Fischer to interview Noe Hinojosa of the Estrada Hinojosa financial firm, prepare a list of witnesses to interview, prepare a letter summarizing the evidence for and against Romero and Gonzalez, for them to have.

Gonzalez and Romero can make statements, present witnesses and have a lawyer during the hearing. The man who initially filed the complaint can do the same.

The commission said in order to find wrong doing, they need clear and convincing evidence.

“This process is not a sprint,” said residing Officer Stuart Schwartz. “It is a marathon. We need to get this right. We will be deliberative and considerate of the process and the persons directly affected by our actions and recommendations.”

There is no date set for the next hearing.