Lynwood City Council Takes Down Request to Re-Think Selection of Mayor

On Tuesday, February 19, 2013, the Lynwood city council removed an item from its regular agenda, which if asked the councilmembers to reconsider the most recent selection of Mayor.

In Lynwood, the positions of Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem are chosen from the five elected councilmembers, who in rotate them on a yearly basis.

Lynwood Mayor Sal Alatorre claimed to have been surprised upon seeing this item on the agenda.  Further maintaining that it was added to the agenda hastily and in an improper fashion.

“I did not know anything about it,” said Alatorre. “Protocol was not followed and we had to dissolve it.”

Councilmember Jim Morton told Patch that this item also astonished him.

“I was surprised to see it on the agenda,” said Morton. “Last time I knew, we were all getting along pretty good.”

Patch was not able to get a confirmation as to why and how this item was introduced to the agenda.  The Lynwood Director of Public Works, Deborah Jackson stated that she and staff were, “not privy to that information.”

Mayor Pro-Tem Ramon Rodriguez and councilmember Maria T. Santillan said that they could not comment on the item.

On the other, councilmember Aide Castro told Patch that she could only offer the following statement, without giving much detail:

“There is a pending investigation that is a liability for the city,” said Castro. “We need to make sure that the council does everything it can do to correct whatever problem has been identified.”

During the meeting, several supporters of Alatorre showed up with signs to express their disgust with the item, speaking fondly about his community work,whole  also demanding that he be allowed to serve out his appointment.

Alatorre admitted to Patch that he was at was first worried, but that it no longer causes him concern.

“For now it is not an issue,” affirmed Alatorre. 

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