Arizona candidate's English questioned

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SAN LUIS, Ariz., Jan. 6 (UPI) -- The San Luis, Ariz., City Council voted to require council candidate Alejandrina Cabrera to prove her fluency in English.

Cabrera's ability to deal with the work of the council was questioned by former Mayor Guillermina Fuentes, said city attorney Glenn Gimbut, who added a council member's proficiency in English is required by law, KWST-TV, Yuma, reported.

"She (Fuentes) made a formal complaint and her opinion was that one of the candidates could not read, speak or write English sufficiently to be a member of the city council," Gimbut said.

Mayor Juan Carlos Escamilla, who admitted his English is not perfect, voted with the council in asking for verification of Cabrera's proficiency.

"We're not a small community anymore, like we were 15 or 20 years ago, and it is one of our minimal requirements," Escamilla said.

Gimbut said his office is investigating the matter and a conference has been set for next week in Yuma County Superior Court.