(PUEBLO, Colo.)– Pueblo County Commissioner Miles Lucero was censured by the county board on Tuesday, Sept. 30 after being accused of violating executive session confidentiality.
The censure followed accusations from fellow commissioners Zach Swearingen and Paula McPheeters, who claimed Lucero broke state law by discussing details from private meetings on sensitive or legal matters.
“I do believe that things that were said in public… were breaches of executive session and therefore a violation of law,” said Cynthia Mitchell, Pueblo County Attorney.
During the meeting, tensions were high as GOP Chairman Zach Swearingen expressed his frustration with Lucero, stating, “Do you think I like going to dinners and having to look at your name tag? That is the least favorite thing of this job for me.”
Lucero defended his actions, asserting that he did not break the law and emphasizing his commitment to transparency with his community.
“That accusation of me breaking the law is simply untrue,” Lucero stated. “I have never disclosed information from executive session that would expose this board financially or compromised personnel matters.”
The board ultimately decided to remove the line from the censure accusing Lucero of breaking the law, although the censure itself was approved.
Lucero addressed the censure, saying, “Let me be clear. This censure does not remove me. It does not take away my vote and it certainly does not stop me from speaking up for the people of this county.”
This incident is not the first sign of tension among the commissioners. Last week, Lucero and McPheeters clashed over her vote regarding the interim coroner, with Lucero claiming McPheeters did not clearly disclose her vote to the board, a claim McPheeters denied.
Despite the censure, Lucero remains resolute in his position, stating, “What my colleagues are really asking me to do is earn their trust behind closed doors. If the choice is between that and earning the trust of Pueblo citizens out in the open, I will choose the people every single time.”
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