The "search" for a new county manager

I went looking for information on the membership of the committee that recommended five finalists in the competition for the county manager job.

The minutes of the May 31 meeting, link, reveal that "All members of the committee were present". They do not reveal the identities of the committee members.

The minutes of the June 7 meeting, link, reveal "Del Archuleta was absent" but no other clues to the identity of those who eliminated all but five candidates from further consideration.

The make up of the committee is important because the committee can be made up of only two kinds of people; those who have a dog in the fight so to speak, and those who do not. It is important to know that candidates were selected according to what they know, not who they know.

Take for example these two women. Clearly the women in this photograph have more than a casual relationship. In front, is (now) Commissioner Michelle Lujan Grisham. At the time, she was announcing her candidacy for congress. The other lady is Deanna Archuleta, one of the five finalists for County Manager. There is an appearance of a conflict of interest in Lujan voting whether to vote to hire someone who is apparently a friend of hers, into an important and powerful public service job; in particular, if their relationship has not been fully disclosed prior to her vote.

I would like some assurance that this and other potential conflicts of interest have been exposed. I would like to know that if I knew where to look, I would find a statement from Lujan, and anyone else on the Bernalillo County Commission with a dog in the fight, declaring candidly, forthrightly and honestly, any relationship they might have with any candidate upon which they will make any decision at all. I would like to find that the appearance of a conflict of interest has been ameliorated by a full disclosure of the facts.

So far, I have not.

It is not enough that an appearance of a conflict of interest is only that "appearance". The appearance itself, damages public trust in the institution of government.

I have heard that Commissioner Maggie Hart-Stebbins also knows Archuleta more than casually.

I haven't investigated the connection, in no small part because the onus is not on me.

The burden of candid, forthright and honest disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest falls squarely on the shoulders of the politicians and public servants. It is not the responsibility of the people to have to ferret them out.




photos Mark Bralley