‘I was very disappointed’: El Paso councilman absent from constituent meeting after assault arrest

After being arrested and charged with domestic violence last week, El Paso City Councilman Sam Morgan was noticeably absent Friday from a community meeting he had organized.

“I would like to hear what happened,” said Erna Wuolikaine, one of his constituents.

A few dozen northeast El Paso residents crowded the Denny’s on Woodrow Bean with questions that the councilman wasn’t there to answer.

“I do not know specifically why he wasn’t at that particular meeting,” said his lawyer, Leonard Morales, by phone. “I don’t.”

Earlier this week, a judge ordered Morgan, who posted bond for release from jail, to stay away from his wife after he was accused of assaulting her.

“When I heard the news, I was very disappointed because he did a lot in this district and everybody seems to like him,” Wuolikaine said. “It’s a shock.”​

El Paso Mayor Dee Margo has placed an item on next week’s City Council agenda that concerns “provisions relating to an elected city official’s removal from office.”

“In light of recent events regarding District 4, Tuesday’s agenda item will provide clarification for members of Council and the public regarding City Charter provisions relating to an elected city official’s removal from office,” wrote Margo in a statement sent by his chief of staff.

As for his absence from his own constituent meeting, “I’m not sure why he wasn’t able to attend that particular meeting, but I know that he’s going to continue to attend all the other regular duties that are required of him as a city councilperson,” Morales maintained.

But that lack of explanation didn’t satisfy some residents of his district.

“We’re his biggest supporters,” Wuolikaine observed. “I thought he should come and tell us.”

KVIA 2019