El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser filed to veto a plan to extend the city manager's contract, which was passed by the City Council earlier this week.
In a 5 to 3 vote, City Council approved to authorize Leeser to execute an amendment to Tommy Gonzalez’s contract.
Gonzalez's new contract would extend his employment agreement until 2029 and give Gonzalez a chance at increasing his salary up to $450,000.
Leeser said he filed the veto because he has unanswered questions about the contract.
"I wanted to know the end of the contract, what's the payout in 2029, what's gonna happen at the end of the contract and those questions have not been answered," said Leeser. "I couldn't take action and say yeah I support something that I don't have full information."
Leeser also said he wants to take a look at what the salary cap will be, what new benefits Gonzalez will have and the impact of the payout.
The mayor added that he would have liked to see more time spent on the contract and to have given community members a chance to share their thoughts.
"We have a current contract and when we do something that big we really need to take our time and look at it and have discussions to make sure what we're doing and we understand what we are doing," Leeser said.
The city council's decision came after Gonzalez was named a finalist for another city manager position in the city of Frisco, Texas.
Gonzalez announced in a statement issued by the city he was withdrawing his name from Frisco's search soon after the city council's vote.
Gonzalez was hired as El Paso city manager in 2014 earning $239,000.
Leeser said that he and Gonzalez have not spoken about the veto.
"This is nothing to do with his performance at all it's more about you know that we do have a current contract now and were looking to continue to move the city forward," said Leeser.
Leeser said that this is his second veto since he took office and that he hopes it stands.
"I did it because it's the right thing for the community," said Leeser. "To make sure that we continue to look at what, we have a current contract, we need to continue to honor the contract and continue to move forward."
El Paso Rep. Peter Svarzbein, Rep. Isabel Salcido, Rep. Cassandra Hernandez, Rep. Henry Rivera, and Rep. Cissy Lizarraga voted in favor of the extension.
Rep. Alexsandra Annello, Rep. Joe Molinar, and Rep. Claudia Rodriguez voted no.
In order for city council members to override the veto, six council members would have to be in agreement.
Discussions about the veto are expected to start on Monday.
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