By KRWG News
Columbus – The Columbus Board of Trustees plans a meeting Wednesday to begin the process of removing the village's mayor and a trustee who were arrested last month.
Several residents have been circulating petitions to remove Mayor Eddie Espinoza and Trustee Blas Gutierrez.
One resident, Phillip Skinner, says the petitions have 135 signatures so far.
The two men have been jailed since March 10.
They and the village's police chief are among a dozen people accused by federal officials of taking part in a gun-smuggling ring prosecutors say bought weapons to send to Mexico.
Espinoza and Gutierrez are elected, so Columbus must petition a court to initiate the removal process.
Village trustees have suspended Angelo Vega as police chief. That's an appointed position rather than an elected one.
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Information from: Headlight, http://www.demingheadlight.com
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.