Socorro City ethics commission grants continuance in complaint against former councilmember; hearing reset for Feb. 5

The Socorro City Ethics Commission on Wednesday voted to continue its hearing on an ethics complaint filed Nov. 26, 2024, by complainant Rudy Cruz Jr. against respondent Yvonne Colon Villalobos and set the resumed hearing for Feb. 5 at 6 p.m.

The commission approved the continuance by voice vote (three members present voting yes; two members absent). The commission’s attorney reiterated procedural rules that each side has 30 minutes total for presentation, including a 3-minute opening and a 5-minute closing, and that the commission has up to 30 days after the hearing to issue a decision.

Why it matters: The complaint concerns statements circulated during the complainant’s mayoral campaign and alleges misconduct by a then-elected official. The hearing drew multiple public commenters who urged the commission to follow the city’s procedural rules and to safeguard due process; the respondent denied knowingly making false statements and said the disputed material reflected private conversations and community discussion.

At the start of the agenda item, the chairwoman described the proceeding:…