Mayor & El Paso City Council reps spar over county shutdown order

EL PASO, Texas -- A total of three city representatives sought to take El Paso Mayor Dee Margo to task over why he did not support in some way or fashion County Judge Ricardo Samaniego's shutdown order.

Those representatives were Mayor pro-tem Peter Svarzbein, Alexsandra Annello and Cassandra Hernandez.

All three signed a letter supporting Judge Samaniego's shutdown order and increasing restrictions to try to stem the spread of Covid-19.

The judge's order was in direct response to the rising number of coronavirus cases, deaths, hospitalizations and patients in intensive care.

But amidst the sparring during a city council special meeting on Monday, Rep. Cissy Lizarraga called on Svarzbein to resign for allegedly falsely representing the city when he supported Samaniego’s shutdown order.

In question, the letter sent out by Svarzbein and the other two had the city logo on it and was stated as an official release.

Lizarraga said she feels the city's position was falsely represented.

During the meeting, the mayor, city manager and other officials discussed the city's Covid-19 response. Public Health Director Angela Mora said the city was stepping up its efforts aimed at contact tracing of virus exposure with the hiring of dozens of additional staff.

You can watch the entire meeting in the video player below.