El Paso Mayor responds to former mayor’s suggestion city councilors should face recall vote over city manager’s termination

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso Mayor issued an open letter Monday to respond to the fallout over his tie-breaking vote that led to the termination of city manager, Tommy Gonzalez.

In the letter, Mayor Leeser addresses what he called incorrect rhetoric "validated" by the intervention of former elected officials in news programs.

On Sunday, former Mayors Dee Margo and John Cook appeared on ABC-7 Sunday Xtra.

In the program, Margo said his phone and text messages have been ringing off the hook about people saying they want to support a recall of two key representatives who placed the item on the agenda to review Gonzalez's contract.

In his letter, Mayor Leeser says, "Any discussion and recall-talk regarding newly elected City Council members seems illogical, given that they are acting on items which they specifically campaigned on, and on which the voters in their district elected them."

Mayor Leeser cast the tie-breaking vote that sealed Gonzalez's fate. Margo remains a steadfast supporter of Gonzalez, calling his performance "unsurpassed."

Margo called the decision to fire Gonzalez "political," saying the council needs "to come clean on what's going on in the smoke-filled room."

Mayor Leeser defended the council's right to end Gonzalez's contract without cause. "Providing cause would be disrespectful to the city manager, contrary to the provision in the city manager's contract, and I am surprised that two former Mayors don't seem to understand this."

Mayor Open Letter to the Community March 6 2023 by KVIA ABC-7 on Scribd