Turmoil in the City of Sunland Park

Mary Helen Garcia

Capitol Report New Mexico - We’ve written about the controversies and turmoil in the state’s Public Regulation Commission (PRC) but compared to what’s been going at the city council in Sunland Park, the PRC is about as staid as the House of Lords. Even by the wild standards of New Mexico politics, the little town south of Las Cruces along the borders of Texas and Mexico is causing a big commotion. So big that a member of the New Mexico state legislature in that district — Rep. Mary Helen Garcia (D-Doña Ana County) — is calling for the state to take over Sunland Park’s city government. “This is a fiasco down here,” Rep. Garcia said to Capitol Report New Mexico by phone Friday (Sept. 30). Just how wild and crazy has it gotten? Well, as we posted back on Aug. 4, the mayor of Sunland Park drew national attention (and ridicule) when he swore in a deposition he was drunk when he signed nine contracts with a California firm that is now suing the town. Then there’s the city council, which has gained a reputation for backbiting and in-fighting. Into this political maelstrom stepped Rep. Garcia, who appeared at the city council meeting this past Monday night (Sept. 26). Garcia planned on addressing the council regarding issues surrounding a regional utility company and a couple other constituent issues but, in the words of a Las Cruces Sun-News editorial, “the Jerry Springer show broke out.” Read full story here: News New Mexico

Turmoil in the City of Sunland Park