Trinidad mayor resigns amid political turmoil

Trinidad Mayor John Rino has resigned effective immediately over continuing political turmoil.

Mayor Pro-tem Frank Shew will take over as mayor until a new mayor is elected after Rino announced his decision on Monday.

According to our news partners at the Pueblo Chieftain, Rino turned in a letter Monday morning to City Clerk Audra Garrett and interim City Manager Ralph Gagliardi detailing the reasons for leaving his position.

Rino cited in the letter that the ongoing recall efforts against him and negativity in the local press toward himself and other council members as contributing factors in his decision to resign.