New San Juan mayor shaking things up

SAN JUAN - It only took two weeks for Mayor Pedro Contreras to make his mark.

Elected June 7 in an upset run-off over former mayor San Juanita Sanchez, Contreras led a special city commission meeting Monday to replace City Manager Willie Seguin. He also stirred controversy over a move to rock the San Juan Economic Development Corporation board.

The noon meeting to discuss the eight EDC members' positions was canceled at the last minute, but during an evening meeting city commissioners voted 3-2 to replace Seguin.

City Police Chief Tony Garza is now set to serve as interim city manager.

Seguin, who spent four years as finance director before becoming city manager 13 months ago, is expected to assist in the transition until August 1, when his contract expires.

Goodbye Seguin

During Seguin's tenure as finance director, town reserves rose from $35,000 in 2003 to $2.8 million last year, and the town's bond rating jumped two levels in a single year - an unusual boost that saved San Juan hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest.

"It's a sad day in San Juan, it really is," said Commissioner Claudia Gonzalez, who alleged the commission's new majority pushed to replace Seguin purely for political reasons. The majority is made up of Contreras' victorious slate of candidates this year.

Gonzalez voted against Garza's hiring, saying after the meeting he isn't qualified for the job. Commissioner Edward "Eddie" Rodriguez also voted against replacing Seguin.

But after the meeting Seguin said he didn't have a problem with the change and was proud of the town's progress during his tenure.

Contreras, who along with commissioners Guadalupe "Lupe" Rodriguez and Roberto "Bob" Garza voted to replace Seguin, said he simply wanted to take the town in a different direction. He would not explain further.

Garza said he was honored by his new appointment.

"My intention is to keep the projects going (and) make things smoother for them," said Garza about the city commissioners.

Lt. Ray Casarez is now set to step in as interim police chief.

EDC shuffle?

Many of those who attended the evening meeting where Seguin was replaced also showed up for the noon meeting, only to find Fire Station #2's doors locked.

Contreras said he canceled that meeting because a majority of the commission could not attend, an assertion Gonzalez disputes.

While Eddie Rodriguez, Gonzalez and a crowd of about 15 people stood outside the fire station at noon, Lupe Rodriguez passed by in his vehicle but did not stop. Gonzalez said his appearance demonstrated that a majority of the commissioners could have attended the meeting. Lupe Rodriguez later said he received a call as he drove by saying the meeting had been canceled.

The meeting agenda had indicated the commission could remove some or all of the EDC's board members.

Gonzalez said the meeting was deliberately scheduled at lunch time to lower attendance and hide the commission's decision from the public. And Eddie Rodriguez said he questioned whether the new commissioners, with just two weeks on the job, had enough experience to decide whether the corporation or the city manager should be replaced.

The commission plans to meet tonight at 6 p.m. at Fire Station #2 for its regularly scheduled meeting. No discussions regarding the EDC were listed on the agenda Monday afternoon and a rescheduled meeting on the matter had not been announced.

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Dave Hendricks covers general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4454