City Council Ethics Complaint Dismissed Amid Controversy

An ethics complaint against Councilor Flores was dismissed by the city council during a recent meeting, following a review of the allegations presented by Chris Nicholas. The complaint, filed on June 21, alleged two violations of the city's ethics code.

The first allegation claimed that Councilor Flores failed to disclose a familial relationship with Charles Hernandez, whom she selected to replace Mayor Graham. However, it was determined that the relationship, which is through marriage as Hernandez is the second cousin of Flores' late wife, does not fall under the definition of \"family\" as outlined in the city’s ethics code, which only includes immediate family and first cousins.

The second allegation involved claims of religious bias against Nicholas due to his association with a political group called Forging Pueblo. The council's legal advisor clarified that city council members are not classified as city employees and thus the relevant section of the municipal code regarding equal opportunity for employment does not apply to them. Additionally, since Forging Pueblo is a political committee and not a religious organization, the complaint did not meet the criteria for discrimination under the ethics code.

After a thorough discussion, the council voted 5-0 to dismiss the complaint, concluding that it did not state a valid claim under the city's ethics regulations. The council emphasized the importance of maintaining a clear distinction between political affiliations and protected classes in their deliberations.