Raul Urena was elected by thousands of voters to lead the Calexico government, hoping the young politician would bring a fresh perspective to the city’s longstanding issues of unemployment, crime, and poverty.
Some citizens changed their minds when Urena began advocating progressive ideas throughout the community.
Certain committee members felt deceived because Urena also embraced wearing dresses and high heels to government meetings.
Urena, who uses she/her pronouns, sees discrimination in the attempt to understand her in a vote on Tuesday.
However, her critics argue that it’s about the ideas and that progressivism tends to exacerbate existing issues.
“I voted for him because he’s a young person who seems to have great ideas for our area. It would be a big change,” says Angela Moreno, a 62-year-old retiree.
“But when I started paying attention to what he was doing, his thoughts, his views, what was important to him… I wasn’t on board with that plan.”
According to Moreno, her city doesn’t need electric car chargers or greater tolerance for drug users.
“I didn’t vote for that.”
Society Wars
Calexico is a divided community.
This narrative echoes across the country as it braces for potential clashes between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, whether it’s due to the generation gap, cultural conflicts, or the two factions talking past each other.
On one side, there are those longing for an America they see disappearing, while on the other are those seeking change and not pining for a place they feel hasn’t worked for them.
Like other remote areas, Calexico’s economy has struggled in recent years.
Poverty rates are high in a region where commerce has been hindered by pandemic-related border closures. Its population is increasingly Latino, Catholic, and elderly, with a majority of voters leaning Democrat but largely conservative within the party.
Younger people have few opportunities, and many leave when they do find them. Some return.
Urena did.
After studying economics at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Urena, now 26, returned home in 2020.
She immediately became involved in local politics, running for a seat that was vacated when a council member was ousted amid corruption allegations.
In 2022, she was reelected for a full four-year term.
While she asserts that gender fluidity is a reality, she didn’t start wearing dresses and heels for official business until after the election.
“Citizens have been mocking my feminine identity since 2020,” said the legislator.
Therefore, last year, after assuming the presidency – the position rotates among the council’s five members – she became aware of a recall campaign, a scheme she alleges is being orchestrated by defeated opponents.
“They’re essentially leading a recall effort in response to losing the last few elections,” Urena told AFP.
“They’re trying to subvert democracy in Calexico.”
‘Deceived Individuals’
According to former Calexico mayor Alex Perrone, most people disapprove of Urena because of her lack of experience and divisiveness.
“I stand very firmly for our legal right… and she’s taking that away from us,” he said.
“If you go to a city council meeting and say anything contrary to her ideas, to her agenda, you’re her enemy.”
However, he added, some feel betrayed by Urena’s personal transformation.
“When she campaigned, she wore mostly shorts and a button-up shirt. She started wearing a dress after being elected,” Perrone told AFP.
“She deceived people. They thought they were voting for one person, but they were voting for another.”
However, Urena’s camp insists her gender identity is not the real issue.
“My personal and sexual choices won’t impact anyone’s lives because of this recall,” a Facebook post read.
“While all comments are welcome, please refrain from this line of discussion.”
Still, there’s palpable tension, from acerbic remarks at public meetings to competing yard signs urging support or opposition to the recall.
Gilberto Manzanarez, another progressive council member alongside Urena and subject to recall, fears the divisions are paralyzing the city, even in uncontroversial decisions like filling a vacancy for police chief.
“It wasn’t even a unanimous vote,” he said.
“That tells me that this government is currently just as divided and fractured as the community.”
