Valtenesi Mayors’ Meeting Reaffirms Unity, Respect Amid Resignation Controversy

“One for all, all for one” is essentially the message that the mayors of Valtenesi wanted to convey with their strong presence at the clarifying meeting that Gianfranco Comincioli, former mayor who resigned, convened yesterday at noon in the city council chamber of the Puegnago municipality.

Reasons for resignation and subsequent revocation

A meeting with the entire population to explain many things. Firstly, the reason for his sudden and unexpected resignation; the reason for the withdrawal of the resignation that took place at the prefecture in front of the same Prefect on Friday morning. The reason for the choice of his deputy mayor and councilor Adelio Zeni (“he has been continuing our collaboration both politically and administratively for years, also in the role of opposition”). The reason why a small group of people “some of whom are even not residents of Puegnago” intend to “terrorize, harming other citizens of Puegnago.”

The resignation was motivated by “the necessity of reflection to find the reasons to continue or resign from my mandate,” Comincioli stated. “Two days after my appointment (June 14, 1999), I had already received the first complaint! It has since been a continuous drip of provocations, anonymous letters, public denunciations, reports to institutional bodies, criminal complaints, all aimed at intimidating and threatening the municipal administration, using direct attacks on the mayor as a target of a project aimed at destabilizing the administration, the easiest way to topple a majority.”

Withdrawing the resignation and calls for respect

“Having confirmed the trust expressed to me by the population and the loyalty of part of the opposition, who disapproved of the methods used so far, reaffirming the shared political-administrative project, the total and unconditional support of my group and the city council majority, and being sorry for causing some disorientation with my gesture, I withdrew my resignation.”

In his passionate message, Gianfranco Comincioli also called for respect towards citizens and municipal officials; “it is their responsibility to sign building permits. As public administrators, it is our task to define the political-administrative direction, while it is the officials’ duty to make the process attractive, fully respecting the rules and laws governing bureaucratic procedures, not only in our municipality but throughout our country.”

For them, as for those who stand beside me guiding the fortunes of Puegnago, I ask and demand respect, respect that I myself have always maintained, despite repeated and ongoing attacks.”

Participants and reactions to the meeting

In the room listening but without intervening were some representatives of the opposition and also Laura Marsadri, president of the Committee for the Defense of Puegnago. The only interventions were from citizens who demonstrated their solidarity with Comincioli and expressed it when, at the beginning of the conference, Comincioli resumed his role as the Mayor, announcing his withdrawal of resignation and the upcoming official visit to Puegnago by the new Prefect of Brescia, scheduled for January 11 at 12 p.m.

“In recent days,” Comincioli added, “I have seen firsthand how many believe in a better future for this town. Therefore, leaving to those who want to be necessarily hostile and provocative their role, I will not waste any more time, and I would invite everyone who wants to work for the good of this town to roll up their sleeves and continue the journey of dedicating their time to the common good.”

In these days, we have realized that, beyond the last-minute angry ones, there are some individuals behind the controversy, more or less hidden, that has lasted for more than a decade, and for whom it doesn’t matter whom they strike, as long as they strike!”

Finally, a procession of people for the traditional handshake of solidarity and best wishes for a future, truly better for Puegnago.