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Socorro City Leaders Scuffle Caught On Tape

The Mayor of Socorro has filed assault charges against the city manager while police look into the mayor for allegedly taking city documents.

It's yet another controversy among city and elected officials in Socorro but one that was caught on video.

Surveillance video inside the Socorro administrative office shows what looks like a dispute over documents between the mayor of Socorro, Trini Lopez and the city manager Lorenza Fraire. The video was posted on YouTube by city Rep. Jesse Gandara.

"I don't think there's any excuse for that type of behavior. I believe that that type of excuse contributes to this feeling that the city of Socorro is acting like a circus," said Gandara.

Gandara has asked for her resignation and says the video shows her unprofessionalism.

"Mrs. Fraire attempted to harass him, attempted to bully him. She made an effort at all cost to block his exit from the building," said Gandara.

The video was recorded last week, but it's something Socorro city council continued to bicker about during Thursday's meeting. Fraire said what the video shows is Lopez taking government property.

"He went in and took those documents from his office. He was going out with them and I asked him, 'Let me have the documents.' This is what I was trying to get from him," said Fraire.

Lopez has filed charges against her, but Fraire says it was not harassment and it wasn't assault.

"In no way did I ever touch him. I kept asking him, 'Please give me the documents, please give me the documents," said Fraire.

Gandara said Socorro's Civil Service Commission is also reviewing the video.
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