Socorro in Crisis; Mayor Tested

Socorro Mayor Elia Garcia

The City of Socorro is in a crisis of confidence with the community. It's as bad as the days of Jesse Gandara because the governance hasn't proved to be much different over the last year.

The floods that ravaged the town are analogous to their turbulent, and at times, destructive leadership in the County's second-biggest municipality over the last year.

They have a screwed up charter and ordinances because previous administrations have used them as tools to settle scores and minimize their opposition.

They have a new young Latina mayor who is an attorney, Elia Garcia. They have one more set of elections in November that will set the trajectory for the city for the next couple of years and there can finally be some common sense and strategic thinking in charge, or it can be more of the same failed leadership that has plagued that community for so long.

There is yet another agenda item that shows once again, the agenda for city council meetings is where people settle scores rather than think of common-sense solutions for the good of the community they serve.

I long for the days when I can stop writing about the circus of Socorro and the clown car that is their city council meetings.

Mayor Garcia has a unique opportunity to inspire a little confidence in the people that elected her by ensuring her political allies don't continue to use the city council meeting agendas as their personal tool for political payback. Because that is what is happening now.

Because of Jesse Gandara, the mayor's office has almost no power. They don't even have the power to veto and they vote only in the case of a tie, which almost never happens because Socorro has an even number of districts plus an "At-Large" City Rep, which means its usually an odd number and a tie is pretty rare.

But she can and should use the power of personal influence.

The agenda item reflects on her and looks like she is directing an ally to settle the score of an old contract she was competing for. An agenda item related to a contract she was competing for will be interpreted in no other way than political payback.

Socorro has had enough of that kind of government. Socorro needs to stop governing from emotions and vendettas, and govern from the stand point of common sense solutions to the many problems facing the community.

Socorro needs a strategic plan. Socorro needs a mutually agreed upon policy agenda and plan focused on problem-solving.

Socorro doesn't need more flawed personalities making decisions under the guise of being for the citizens when its really just a political payback. That is what has plagued that community for so many years.

Socorro needs change, not more of the same. Ralph Duran will have to face voters for once again in November for using the agenda to settle scores, but this is where the Mayor can right the ship.

And she has an obligation to, because she promised voters that she'd be different.