John Renteria, the center's disputed president and a Salt Lake City mayoral candidate, was ousted from his position by the board about a month ago while he was in jail for three weeks on a probation violation.

Renteria, 55, called the board's action to remove him "ruthless and pretty ignorant." With about four months left to serve as president, he claims the board violated the center's bylaws to remove him from office.

"It was an illegal attempt to take over by some board members," he said Wednesday.

But board member Margarita Rodriguez said the board met in June to remove Renteria and voted to name her acting president. She joined the board some eight months ago after being recruited by Renteria.

Rodriguez said the board had had issues with Renteria for months because he routinely made decisions without consulting the board. Then, when he went to jail, she said the board discussed how his reputation would reflect on the center. "He has dragged our name through the mud," Rodriguez said.

"The board does not want him. They are not willing to follow his lead any longer," she added. "He doesn't run Centro Civico, the board does."

The center was started in 1938 to serve as a venue where the Mexican community could celebrate and promote its culture and holidays. Today, it is housed in a rundown building in Salt Lake City downtown, 155 S. 600 West. It has an estimated $80,000 to $100,000 annual budget, which comes from donations, grants and facility rental fees, Renteria said.

At a board meeting Tuesday, Renteria and board member Richard Montaño later said the group agreed Renteria is still the president and the issue would be settled by mediation through the Department of Commerce. The agency regulates nonprofit organizations.

Department spokeswoman Jennifer Bolton said no one at the department has been contacted by anyone from the center. She said she's not sure how the center wants the department to help.

Renteria said he would like to see some board members removed from their positions through the mediation.

Rodriguez said she is open to mediation. Still, she said the board will meet Saturday to draft a letter of why some board members want to oust Renteria. She also said the board is ready to put this behind them.

"We just want to keep the center moving . . . and get the focus off of John," Rodriguez said Wednesday.

Renteria in June was sentenced to 365 days in jail for violating his probation on misdemeanor traffic offenses, originally triggered by a DUI. The judge later released him to home arrest after three weeks in jail.

Montaño also said the group's problems are no different from issues that happen on other boards. More importantly, he said the board's power struggle is not affecting the center's daily activities - meetings are still happening and events are being planned.

Frank Cordova, a center member and community activist, said he's not too worried about the center's reputation in the community because its volunteers are hard-working, good people. "If you go to any board, there's disagreements," he said. "It doesn't make the organization bad."

jsanchez@sltrib.com