Man Banned From City Hall Amid Lap-Dancing Controversy is Elected Mayor
Daniel Salinas, a mayoral candidate in Sunland Park, N.M., beat out two others in Tuesday night's election despite the fact that he is been banned from City Hall amid a lap-dancing extortion controversy:
Salinas is still capable of holding office, in spite of the four felony allegations against him, but officials have noted he'll have difficulty running the city. That's because the conditions of his release from jail specify that he not set foot on city property or have contact with city workers or other witnesses in the case. An eventual conviction, should it occur, would require his removal.
Salinas and City Manager Jaime Aguilera are accused of being behind a threat to Gerardo Hernandez - using a sex video as leverage - to get him to drop out of the race. Salinas and Aguilera have denied guilt.
Salinas and Aguilera are alleged to have secretly recorded Hernandez receiving a lap-dance from a topless woman. For now, though, one of them is mayor. When the dust settles on this one, it could make for a great telenovela plot.
