Alamogordo's Pivotal City Manager Search: A Decade of Instability, Three in this Round, Transparency Battles, and Allegations of Deflection and Bias – Time to End the "Good Ole Boy" Era

The City of Alamogordo stands at a defining crossroads in its prolonged quest for a permanent city manager—a role that shapes virtually every aspect of municipal operations, from budgeting and infrastructure to public safety, economic development, and day-to-day services for residents. As of February 10, 2026, the search remains unresolved following closed-door executive session interviews with finalists earlier this month, with no appointment announced by the City Commission.

The Long Shadow of Turnover and Tainted Processes

For more than a decade (roughly 2015–2025), Alamogordo has endured extraordinary instability in its top administrative position, with at least seven individuals serving as city manager or interim, many with tenures of a year or less. This revolving door has caused real harm: stalled projects, repeated utility rate hikes (especially water), sluggish growth, low staff morale among ~330 employees, and eroded public trust.

Past episodes include quiet exits, contentious departures (e.g., Maggie Paluch in 2019 amid unprofessional conduct allegations), and a 2025 recruitment round that collapsed under claims of bias—including reported sexist and racist remarks—triggering an ethics investigation. The search relaunched late 2025, but external finalists like Dana Schoening (Tuttle, OK) and Jerry Flannery (Commerce City, CO) withdrew in January 2026, reportedly due to perceived political interference and a preference for environments with less "gamesmanship."

Allegations of insider influence have persisted, particularly tied to certain commissioners pushing controversial figures like former manager Robert Stockwell (terminated in 1997 with a $124,000 settlement, failed 2016 rehiring, and turbulent later career). These dynamics, combined with scoring discrepancies in evaluations (where Acting City Manager Dr. Stephanie Hernandez reportedly scored highest overall but lower from specific commissioners), have raised concerns about fairness and potential discrimination or bias—positioning the city for possible lawsuits if the process is seen as tainted by favoritism or improper conduct.

The Current Finalists and Our Transparency Push

The four finalists interviewed in closed sessions (February 5 and 10, 2026):

Dr. Stephanie Hernandez (Acting City Manager; February 5): Lifelong resident, Ph.D. holder, 27 months in assistant/acting roles since 2020. Focused on fiscal stability, performance budgeting, grants, infrastructure (water plans, MainStreet), public safety tech, workforce development, and military ties—no major scandals beyond search-related claims. Responsive to media inquiries.

David A. Vela, ICMA-CM (February 10): Long tenure in Sweetwater, TX (~9 years), has had experience in towns connected to the military, brief Odessa stint. Transparent with local media and communitive. 

Theogene (Theo) Melancon (February 5): Dickinson, TX (2021–early 2025, mutual end amid turbulence), J.D./M.P.A./ICMA-CM; past domestic violence arrest (no conviction), 2025 ethics complaint and withdrawal from prior city manager application process in Texas. Has ignored media requests to date. 

AlamogordoTownNews.org (2nd Life Media) and KALHRadio.org launched an in-depth series in early February 2026 to counter opacity: IPRA-sourced resumes, standardized questions to finalists (verbatim responses from Hernandez and Vela published; Melancon declined/no reply), decade recap, and contrasts in local vs. external experience.

Why This Matters—and the Risks of Continued Opacity

The city manager oversees an $80–95M budget, implements policies, and drives priorities. Stability could rebuild trust and progress; another short tenure perpetuates delays, costs, and distrust—hitting taxpayers, services, and quality of life.

Recent tensions escalated with allegations of executive session leaks. At the January 27, 2026, meeting, Commissioner Josh Rardin (Mayor Pro Tem, District 4) accused unnamed parties (implying others, including possibly Mayor Sharon McDonald) of disclosing confidential details to media, referencing our coverage on finalist withdrawals and insider advocacy for Stockwell. He pushed for another closed session of which city attorney issued a warning on staying focused to the topic. 

However, a January 29, 2026, letter from media to City Attorney Darrell Moriarty traced alleged leaks to networks tied to Rardin and Commissioner Stephen Burnett (District 2)—not the mayor or others—based on multiple sources. Rardin's finger-pointing accusations appear as deflection, redirecting scrutiny from his circle amid Mayor McDonald's transparency push since her January 2026 swearing-in.

These issues compound prior tainting: 2025 bias claims, ethics probes, alleged scoring biases, and resistance to Hernandez despite her record. Combined with loyalty networks on the commission, this risks lawsuits for discrimination, bias, or violations of fair process/open meetings laws.

The time for "good ole boy" patronage, closed-door leadership, and insider games must end. Alamogordo deserves merit-based, transparent governance—not factions prioritizing connections over community needs.

Where Is the Rest of the Media? Where Is the Public?

Mainstream/regional coverage remains minimal. Alamogordo Daily News silent on finalists, responses, or implications; Citizen Portal notes sessions but no depth; broader NM media absent.

Public input limited to social media, Hernandez advocacy, transparency calls—no major petitions or forums.

It is time to engage. Contact commissioners (e.g., jrardin@ci.alamogordo.nm.us, sburnett@ci.alamogordo.nm.us), attend meetings, speak in public comments, submit IPRA requests/comments. 

This affects every household—silence enables dysfunction.

AlamogordoTownNews.org and KALHRadio.org remain committed to fact-based transparency. Updates forthcoming.

Guest Commentary by Steven Edwards, a former South Carolina Libertarian Candidate for the SC State House, part-time resident and investor in Alamogordo businesses. 

Sources (accessed February 2026):

1. "Alamogordo City Commission Tensions Escalate: Media Letter Traces Alleged Executive Session Leaks to Rardin and Burnett Networks, Raising Deflection Concerns," AlamogordoTownNews.org, February 6, 2026. https://2ndlifemediaalamogordo.town.news/g/alamogordo-nm/n/364373/alamogordo-city-commission-tensions-escalate-media-letter-traces-alleged
2. "Alamogordo at a Crossroads: The Prolonged City Manager Search, the Withdrawals of External Finalists, Ongoing Political Games," AlamogordoTownNews.org, January 21, 2026. https://2ndlifemediaalamogordo.town.news/g/alamogordo-nm/n/361238/alamogordo-crossroads-prolonged-city-manager-search-withdrawals-external
3. "Alamogordo Insiders, Reportedly Championing Former City Manager Robert Stockwell—Despite Questionable History—for Open Position," AlamogordoTownNews.org, January 23, 2026. https://2ndlifemediaalamogordo.town.news/g/alamogordo-nm/n/361636/alamogordo-insiders-reportedly-champion-former-city-manager-robert
4. "January 27th City Commission Meeting Thoughts," AlamogordoTownNews.org, January 28, 2026. https://2ndlifemediaalamogordo.town.news/g/alamogordo-nm/post/362387/january-27th-city-commission-meeting-thoughts
5. "City Manager Uncertainty and Political Gamesmanship Cast Shadow Over Stalled Collective Bargaining Negotiations in Alamogordo," AlamogordoTownNews.org, February 2026. https://2ndlifemediaalamogordo.town.news/g/alamogordo-nm/n/364486/city-manager-uncertainty-and-political-gamesmanship-cast-shadow-over
6. "Alamogordo’s City Manager Search: A Decade of Turnover Leads to February 2026 Interviews – In-Depth Candidate Analysis," AlamogordoTownNews.org, early February 2026. https://2ndlifemediaalamogordo.town.news/g/alamogordo-nm/n/363827/alamogordos-city-manager-search-decade-turnover-leads-february-2026
7. "Alamogordo City Manager Candidate Dr. Stephanie Hernandez Shares Detailed Responses...," AlamogordoTownNews.org, February 9, 2026. https://2ndlifemediaalamogordo.town.news/g/alamogordo-nm/n/364845/alamogordo-city-manager-candidate-dr-stephanie-hernandez-shares-detailed

This article is published by 2nd Life Media / AlamogordoTownNews.org and KALHRadio.org.