La Paz Mayor Milena Quiroga Romero received approval for a temporary leave of absence of up to 30 days without pay, effective Monday, June 22. The city council (Cabildo) granted the leave during an extraordinary session, placing First Councilwoman Amor Fenech Montaño in charge of municipal government.
Quiroga, who has served as municipal president since 2021, stopped short of formally resigning but made clear she does not plan to return. “Very likely we will not be back,” she told the council, adding that she was satisfied with her administration’s record.
A Likely Permanent Departure
Under Baja California Sur’s municipal law, a mayor may request a leave of absence through the Cabildo rather than submit an outright resignation. The 30-day window gives Quiroga legal flexibility while Fenech Montaño assumes full executive authority over city operations.
Quiroga’s departure comes as La Paz is in the middle of several major projects, including a recently approved $35 million renovation of the Malecón playground area along the city’s waterfront. That project, along with other infrastructure investments approved during Quiroga’s tenure, will now fall under Fenech Montaño’s oversight.
What It Means for La Paz Residents
Fenech Montaño is expected to maintain continuity with ongoing municipal programs. As first councilwoman, she has been part of the Cabildo’s decision-making throughout Quiroga’s administration. Her promotion to acting municipal president follows the standard line of succession established in the city’s governing charter.
For the roughly 300,000 residents of the La Paz municipality, including a sizable community of foreign residents and retirees, the transition is procedural rather than disruptive. City services, permit offices, and public works schedules are expected to continue without interruption.
Quiroga did not publicly state her reasons for stepping aside or indicate whether she plans to pursue another political role. In Baja California Sur, municipal terms run three years, and her current term was set to conclude later this year with the installation of new administrations across the state.
The Cabildo’s vote was reported by the official La Paz municipal government news portal, noticias.lapaz.gob.mx.