Rachel Ruelas
Rachel Ruelas | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Mabton, Washington | |
| Assumed office January 2022 | |
| Succeeded by | Laura Vazquez |
Rachel Ruelas is an American politician elected Mayor of Mabton, Washington in November 2021 in a write-in campaign.[1][2] In 2024, two separate recall campaigns were filed, one by members of the city council and one by citizens, over allegations of gross incompetence.[3][4]
Political career
[edit]Ruelas first entered politics in 2017 when she and her son each ran for a seat on the Mabton city council.[5] She lost in the general election to incumbent Sophia Gutierrez-Sotelo, 37% to 63%.[6]
After the 2021 primary election, Ruelas coordinated a write-in campaign for mayor of Mabtom with two other individuals running for city council positions.[1] She posted regularly on Facebook concerning the Mabton staffing and direction.[1] The three candidates won their elections, with Ruelas defeating incumbent mayor Laura Vazquez 109 votes to 58 votes.[2][7] When Ruelas took office, the city of Mabton faced years of poor water quality along with the city government plagued with financial and budgetary problems.[4]
In a June 2024 council meeting, councilmembers and the public expressed frustration with Ruelas's failure to release a city budget and council minutes, as well as a failure to oversee city personnel, including the deputy clerk who was arrested for allegedly stealing $22,000 from the city.[3][8][9] The council called on Ruelas to resign and she refused, stating "We are not talking about anything that is going on in the community."[3][8] Ruelas then ended the meeting early and refused to take questions from reporters.[3][8] The following day, the city council voted 4–1 to initiate a recall campaign against Ruelas over gross incompetence and unethical use of city resources to promote her business.[3] The sole no vote was from councilmember Diana Casteneda, Ruelas' mother, who told the council and audience, "I am disappointed in some of you people that are here for this meeting."[10]
A separate recall petition was submitted by Mabton resident Ruben Olivarez in August 2024, with two charges, convincing the previous city council to approve a $8,000 a year pay increase for her and not releasing a city budget.[11] A Yakima Superior Court ruled, in separate cases, that two charges from each petition could move forward: the lack of notice over the budget process and use of the city website to promote her bridal businesses from the first petition, and both charges from the second petition.[12][13] In both cases, Ruelas appealed the rulings to the Washington Supreme Court.[14][15]
Ruelas did provide a preliminary budget to the council in October 2024, nearly a month past the deadline she gave the court, and city council members and staff struggled to create a budget due to incomplete and inaccurate city financial reports.[16][17]
In October 2024, a fight broke out at the Mi Casa 2 restaurant between two groups: Ruela, her husband, and son on one side and Ruben Olivarez and his wife on the other.[4][18] Olivarez's family criticized the police response to the incident, saying the police did not call them after the incident and only talked to Ruelas after she called the officers.[18] An officer met Olivarez the following day and took an incident report; he and Reulas filed protective orders against the other.[4][18] In the Yakima Superior Court case addressing both the protective orders, the judge denied Oliverez's order because " [he] was the aggressor because he escalated by demanding to know, 'Who are you looking at?'"[19] The judge granted Ruelas' protective order, but allowed Oliverez to attend city council meetings.[19]
Since the recall efforts began, Ruelas has not given a statement to or answered questions from any media outlet regarding the budget or other city issues.[8][14][16] In the October protective order case, Ruelas complained about her coverage in the media, saying "(Olivarez has) been on the news and he’s referred to me several times with the news media that you have here today, so I feel that Apple Valley News has always attacked me in the news media..."[19] The judge in the case responded in part to Ruelas "...you need to toughen up a little bit and recognize that if you’re going to be in public office, you’re going to deal with people who are being passionate and so on."[19]
Personal life
[edit]Ruelas is married, and she has six children.[18][20] Before running for city council, Ruelas owned L.A. Style, a wedding and quinceañera dress store in Toppenish, Washington, which is now closed.[21][22][23] She now owns Forever Bridal and Decorating in Prosser, Washington.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Rounce, Kevin (November 10, 2021). "Write-in campaign changing Mabton". Sunnyside Sun. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- ^ a b "Cumulative Results Report". Yakima County Auditor. November 23, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Goodell, Emily; Wencl, Erin (June 28, 2024). "Mabton mayor recall process explained, how its linked to fake robbery scheme". Apple Valley News. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- ^ a b c d INGHRAM, QUESTEN (October 17, 2024). "Mabton Mayor Rachel Ruelas involved in fight with person who filed Recall against her". Yakima Herald-Republic. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- ^ Meyers, Donald (October 20, 2017). "2017 Election: Plenty of intrigue in Mabton races". Yakima Herald-Republic. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
- ^ "Cumulative Report — Official". Yakima County Auditor. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
- ^ Bejarano, Johanna (August 9, 2022). "Two Write-In Candidates Make It On The Ballot For The General Election". Northwest Public Broadcasting. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Phipps, Hunter (June 25, 2024). "Mabton in turmoil: Mayor faces backlash and calls to resign". KIMA. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- ^ D'Anella, Tomas (June 30, 2024). "City Council, residents accuse Mabton mayor breaking multiple laws". NonStop Local Tri-Cities/Yakima. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- ^ D'Anella, Tomas (June 26, 2024). "Petition to recall Mabton mayor submitted to Auditor's office". NonStop Local Tri-Cities/Yakima. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
- ^ Goodell, Emily (August 15, 2024). "Mabton mayor facing second recall petition containing new allegations". Apple Valley News. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- ^ a b Perez, Kennia; Wise, Job (August 22, 2024). "Court allows recall effort to proceed against Mabton Mayor Rachel Ruelas over budget, ethical violations". Sunnyside Sun. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- ^ Sundeen, Jasper (August 27, 2024). "Second petition to recall Mabton mayor allowed to move forward". Yakima Herald-Republic. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
- ^ a b Goodell, Emily (August 28, 2024). "'Nobody knows anything' Mabton mayor silent amid budget controversy, recall efforts". Apple Valley News Now. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- ^ Williams, Anise (October 18, 2024). "Mabton Mayor Involved in Fight with Resident Behind Recall Petition". KIMA. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
- ^ a b Goodell, Emily (September 11, 2024). "Mabton still without 2024 budget, despite mayor assuring judge of two-week timeline". Apple Valley News Now. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- ^ Goodell, Emily (October 15, 2024). "'Incredibly innacurate' State audit reports detail Mabton's history of poor accounting practices". Apple Valley News Now. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Goodell, Emily (October 11, 2024). "VIDEO Mabton Mayor brawls with man who filed petition to recall her". Apple Valley News Now. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Goodell, Emily (October 25, 2024). "Judge orders recall petitioner avoid Mabton Mayor after fight, but permits city meeting attendance". Apple Valley News Now. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
- ^ "City Government". City of Mabton. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
- ^ "Rachel Ruelas". Center for Washington Cultural Traditions. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
- ^ "Rachel RuelasToppenish, Washington". Rites of Greens. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
- ^ Muir, Pat (May 4, 2016). "Cinco de Mayo on tap this weekend". Yakima Herald-Republic. Retrieved October 20, 2024.