- Gloria Torres was convicted in Arizona of 2020 election abuses
- Last month, she was confirmed by the city council as her city's deputy mayor
- The decision raises doubts about local corruption among many in the community
A local politician convicted of voter fraud was named vice mayor of San Luis, Arizona, at a city council meeting last month.
Democrat Gloria Torres was appointed to her new position in December, just six months after pleading guilty to conspiracy and vote-tampering charges related to the disputed 2020 election.
The serious election allegations came following a two-year investigation by the Yuma County Attorney General's Office and Sheriff's Office that uncovered evidence that Torres and others conducted illegal ballot harvesting during the July 2020 primary election.
Covert video surveillance footage turned over by two vigilant Yuma residents became the key piece of evidence that led to the convictions of Torres, Nadia Guadalupe Lizarraga-Mayorquin, former San Luis Mayor Guillermina Fuentes and Alma Yadira Juarez.
Torres was eventually given a two-year suspended sentence, after which she shockingly chose to remain in local government, a decision that highlighted the problem of corruption in local government.
Gloria Torres was named vice mayor of San Luis, Arizona last month despite recently being convicted of voter abuses related to the 2020 election
Torres was charged and ultimately convicted by Arizona authorities for crimes related to a July 2020 ballot harvesting scheme in which she was involved
Despite her criminal history, Torres' appointment was officially proposed by outgoing Vice Mayor Luis Cabrera – the proposal was approved by a narrow majority in a 4-3 vote in the council.
Garcia Snyder, a candidate for the Arizona House of Representatives in Legislative District 25, which includes Yuma, said he was “both outraged and disappointed that a convicted election abuser was promoted to this leadership position.”
“The fact that a majority of the council appears to have so little regard for our laws is an insult to residents, especially the Latino community.” “We have this kind of corruption and the fact that Democrats are giving it to us so blatantly flaunting it, fed up.”
He suggested that Torres' hold on power was a sign that Democrats have a “corrupt grip” on Latino communities.
“The promotion of a convicted poll worker … must be a wake-up call for the Hispanic community in San Luis and surrounding areas,” he said.
“We are tired of this nonsense and low standards.” “I see my fellow Latin Americans migrating to conservatives like me who hold high standards, share their values and their languages,” he continued, adding in Spanish:
“Save your family, your money, your opportunities and most of all the American dream.” Vote with the conservative party “The Real Party of Hispanics.”
Voting counters during the controversial 2020 election in Arizona, where massive allegations of voter fraud were made after the official vote count
San Luis, Arizona in Yuma County, where Torres has been part of the local government for years. Her career was marked by questionable judgment and allegations of corruption
Torres has long caused controversy in local politics. Her questionable competence and ethics have haunted her since she was first elected to the San Luis City Council.
In May 2020, a performance audit by the Arizona Auditor General found that Arizona District 32, on whose board Torres sat at the time, had “paid (local elementary school) employees for time not worked” and “wasted $65,000 on unnecessary travel expenses.” ” and failed to properly monitor its transportation program.
In 2023, Arizona State House officials discovered that many of District 32's problems were never truly resolved and had resulted in staff stealing thousands of dollars from local taxpayers.