Opinion: Mayor Payne Gets it Right Transparency Needed in City Manager Selection and a Do Over

The Alamogordo City CommissIon meeting of 3-25-25 began with civil dialogue and discussion. The meeting began with its usual ceremonial opening and prayers. The meeting then had two guest speakers from Las Cruces that discussed their approach to affordable housing and transitional housing in a very good discussion of options for Alamogordo policy makers to consider. This presentation was one of many potential tools to combat homelessness and housing sustainability that the city should consider. 

The meeting then had community comments with the very polished inspirational presentation on a HERO's Welcome Veterans Program coming up sponsored by the US Veterans Motorcycle Club Trinity Chapter. 

From there the meeting took on a more typical review of a few zoning actions with the commission supporting the staff recommendations.

From there, the tone and the dialogue of the commission meeting went all to hell, so to speak.

Mayor Susan Payne made a public disclosure, upon advise from one of New Mexico's leading municipal attorneys, that is affliated with the League of Municipalities.  The disclosure,  that Mayor Payne made, was that the Sacramento Mountain Foundation had approached a certain Commissioner, and possibly multiple Commissioners, and had offered to fund a City Manager search and or also possibly help fund the position for "a qualified city manager." She also disclosed “the process now appears tainted and might have opened the city up to potential litigation.”

The concern of the mayor, and what should be the concern of the voters, is there is now a perception, that the hunt for a city manager has been tainted. It feels and appears as if money is attempting to influence the selection process. The rub being the seated "acting city manger" who recently received a PHD in Public Administration is also an applicant. 

Commissioner Josh Rardin and Mayor Susan Payne got into a very heated and awkward public discussion about the selection process He scolded her like a "shot caller" for seeking advise from outside counsel when the city had counsel seated there.  The city attorney attempted to address rather the search was tainted, and offer advise. However, it was an awkward exchange as the city attorney reports to the "acting city manager" as does the city clerk.

Commissioner Josh Rardin all but implied that Stephanie Hernandez was not his pick and accused the mayor "of kicking the selection process down the road."

Rardin's comments made it seem he was not happy, an employee of the city, working with the city would apply as it "makes the process awkward."

Mr Rardin does not seem to comprehend that the most successful enterprises in business, multibillion dollar corporation like GE, Boeing, Apple (the world's first Trillion dollar valuation corporation,) all have it in their corporate culture, to mentor and craft a succession plan, to replace the CEO from within, when possible. The best organizations in the world develop leadership from within and empower leaders to lead.

For an internal employee to want to stay, and work within this city, with the dysfunctional political culture that exists in New Mexico, and one that has gone and achieved her PHD, all the while demonstrating success during her tenure, as an agent of change and policy improvement;  she should be celebrated. That individual should be celebrated rather than made to feel awkward for applying.

The "rest of the story" so to speak is the city of Alamogordo has a history of passing over well qualified candidates and placing people into positions based upon connections versus competencies under previous city leadership.

What Mayor Payne knows, as do several members of the commission, is that it has settled multiple tort claims against the city for discriminatory conduct in promotions and hiring.  

Rardins comments and the outside influence being exerted in this city manager selection process,  does open the door to litigation, as there is certainly now a perception of a tainted process. With the history of settlements and past litigation, it is not a stretch at all, that the process not only looks tainted, but may very well be tainted.

Mrs Hernandez has made huge strides while serving as "acting city manager"

Multiple works projects, rehabilitation and infrastructure improvement projects and policy updates have been made.

Many of those policy changes have upset the establishment, prominent families within town and have challenged their influence. That has made her a very effective leader and a viable candidate.  But her biggest adversary on the commission, as witnessed by repeated heated exchanges, has been with Rardin. 

Rardin is the longest tenured commission member. Many perceive him as the champion of the "good ole boys network.

Rardin has demonstrated a consistent antagonistic attitude toward any policy reforms, process improvements and standards changes during the past years’ newly seated commission continuing into this year.

The mayor and our editorial board, and most especially this journalist, have had a hot and cold relationship. We have been super critical of her online tirades on social media and how her comments many times reflect poorly on her role the mayor

However, this time she got it right!

The public deserves transparency and a selection process that does not ooze of political or monetary interference and influence.

We do not believe the initial intention of the Sacramento Mountain Foundation was to influence the selection process away from an internal candidate. But, the statement by a leader of the foundation crossed the line when he said to her "she is better suited for behind the scenes."

One can’t help but wonder why the hell anyone would want to be a city manager in this town, with the political climate that exists in this county and New Mexico. The city deserves a transparent process that is untainted and not driven by the influence of money or a chosen few. Mayor Payne got it right, Rardin wanted to run to a closed door session.

What does Rardin not want the public to hear? 

This story, like so many things with the city, is an evolving situation… stay tuned… 

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