6-09-2025 8:35pm

Commentary by Mica Maynard - Why is County Government Leadership Interfering with City Government Leadership Selection?

In New Mexico, the separation of city and county government is established to provide distinct governance structures for urban and rural areas. Cities operate as municipalities with their own elected officials, including mayors and city councils, and they are responsible for local services such as police, fire protection, and zoning.

Counties, on the other hand, are larger geographical areas that encompass multiple municipalities and unincorporated areas. County governments are led by elected officials such as county commissioners and provide services like road maintenance, public health, and social services to residents outside city limits.

New Mexico also has a unique classification of municipalities, which can be classified as either "home rule" or "statutory." Home rule municipalities have greater autonomy and can create their own ordinances, while statutory municipalities must adhere to state laws. This framework allows for tailored governance that reflects the needs of different communities within the state. Alamogordo is such a city.

The Otero County Commission is all but led by the State Republican Party Chairwoman, Amy Barela. Mrs. Barela has proven herself to be a strong leader not to be underestimated. She won the position of County Commissioner as an underdog to the very popular G. B. Oliver. She climbed the ladder quickly in state Republican Party politics and in December 2024 was elected as the Republican Party's state chairwoman for the State of New Mexicoy Out of 58 Republican State and Territorial Chairs, Mrs. Barela is one of only 12 women.

As a woman, that is in the minority of leadership, one has to ask why has she made it a personal crusade to involve herself in Alamogordo City Government? Why has she subtly gone to war against women in power within the city of Alamogordo, most specifically the acting city manager?

City Government and County Government are two distinctly different entities, each with their own challenges and constituents.

Mrs Barela along with County staff has inserted itself into the selection process for city manager, sending a confusing letter to the Mayor suggesting they should not promote Mrs. Hernandez the acting city manager to permanent city manager.

Mrs Barela, the county attorney and others within the bureaucracy of county government have overtly and subtly promoted anyone but Mrs. Hernandez for city manager.

As a result of interference by county bureaucrats into city business, the selection process and search for city manager has been suspended as the process is being investigated as potentially being tainted.

The AlamogordoTownNews.org editorial team is finalizing an indepth story, to be released this week, of what led up to the suspension of the search for a city manager, releasing documents from county officials demonstrating an effort to sway the selection process.

The attacks on Mrs. Hernandez by the County leadership is not unique. This same county leadership has never embraced Mayor Susan Payne, nor the changes she has attempted to implement, as her vision to clean up the halls of Alamogordo City Government.

While Mayor Payne has been controversial in some of her comments in social media, her leadership as mayor has been solid in asking questions and not being beholden to the established good ole boys network.

Mrs Payne has been a champion of allowing city managers shake things up, question the status quo and to bring proposals for process change to the commissioners for a vote. She was the deciding vote in the withdrawal from the dispatch center. With controversy continuing to mount with this dispatch center and its record keeping, that is a decision that is proving to be a correct decision.

The intrusion by county leadership into city government and by the state Republican Chair is an absolute overreach and the citizens of Alamogordo and Otero County need to demand that the county bureaucrats stay in their lane.

"You can only run your own race. Stay in your lane. Don’t look at what others are doing. Those that look back in the race usually fall off.” – Oprah Winfrey