EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)—A group of El Pasoans has submitted a petition calling for District 8 City Representative Chris Canales to be removed from his position.
Canales told KTSM the move is unwarranted.
In the petition delivered Tuesday morning, the group outlined a series of concerns they have with Canales, including what they claim was a lack of transparency about a low-incoming housing project proposed in the Coronado, Mesa Hills area.
As we have previously reported, the project has received pushback from community members after the Housing Authority of the City of El Paso, or HOME applied to have a lot by Mesa Hills and Sunland Park rezoned to begin construction.
Speaking to KTSM, the group said they feel unheard by Canales and want someone in the role who listens to voters.
“Put it this way: They just want to be represented, and no one’s being represented,” District 8 resident Linda Peacock said. You can’t just go about doing your own business and pretend that everybody’s going to follow you in your own agenda. The agenda is the people’s agenda, and that’s what it always should be, and that’s what we’re fighting for.”
KTSM requested a comment from Canales’ office and received a detailed breakdown of each point in the petition. He wrote, in part:
“I have had eight community meetings since HOME submitted their rezoning request in April. We have discussed the project at most of those meetings. Ms. Peacock and Mr. Nuñez attended one of those meetings, and we discussed the issue for around 45 minutes.I also attended the HOME Board of Commissioners meeting held at the nearby Polly Harris Senior Center and listened to HOME’s presentation as well as the extensive public comment about this topic. I stayed in the lobby for about 45 minutes after the meeting to speak with all the constituents who wanted to talk to me.”
I also attended the HOME Board of Commissioners meeting held at the nearby Polly Harris Senior Center and listened to HOME’s presentation as well as the extensive public comment about this topic. I stayed in the lobby for about 45 minutes after the meeting to speak with all the constituents who wanted to talk to me.”
According to the city charted, the petition is the first step in the recall process.
The group has 60 days to gather authentic signatures from at least 20% of the votes cast to originally elect Canales.
Canales, who has been in office for more than 19 months, said if the recall moves forward, he would participate in the special election, which he said could cost taxpayers about $275,000.
The City Council will hold a public hearing on the HOME project on Sept. 10.
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