Three members of the City of Anthony Board of Trustees filed complaints with the New Mexico Attorney General and Third Judicial District Attorney requesting immediate assistance with the ongoing issues that the City of Anthony has had along with Mayor Diana Murillo and her administration.
Anthony, New Mexico-Three members of the City of Anthony Board of Trustees filed complaints with the New Mexico Attorney General and Third Judicial District Attorney requesting immediate assistance with the ongoing issues that the City of Anthony has had along with Mayor Diana Murillo and her administration. Those members include Mayor Pro Tempore Gabriel I. Holguin, Trustee Jose G. Garcia, Jr., and Trustee Fernando G. Herrera.
Although all complaints are differentiated in context, all complaints accuse Mayor Diana Murillo of failing to act on items the Governing Board has passed and actively puts the City in a liability. The City of Anthony has been without a City Attorney since April of 2024; when Attorney Randell Van Vleck chose to terminate his contract after board members requested he rebid for his position. On September 18, 024; the governing Board created an in-house counsel position, and has yet to be posted. Despite efforts, Mayor Murillo has refused to post the position despite approval from the Governing Board.
"We have reached out to Mayor Diana Murillo and have yet to hear back from her to this day. Silence. We have asked our City Clerk why wasn't it posted and all she could say is please refer to the Mayor for that response. According to her it was not her duty to disclose why or why not that job posting was NOT posted to hire the City Attorney" Said Trustee Jose G. Garcia.
Another Board member said "Lawsuits have been filed against the city for several reasons to include Open Records lawsuits and lawsuits involving New Mexico Torts and Civil Rights violations. City Administration has actively set up the Governing Board for failure by violating state law, federal law and by creating a liability by refusing to hire legal counsel despite Governing Board efforts. Should Mayor Murillo continue in office, I urge and respectfully request that your agencies intervene and complete a full investigation of all matters with the City of Anthony’s administration" said Fernando G. Herrera.
Mayor Pro Tempore Gabriel I. Holguin stated: "Currently, as a Mayor Pro Tempore for the City of Anthony, I am requesting an expeditious response and intervention with the internal governmental affairs with the City of Anthony. If this waits longer, impartiality may be an issue considering that a candidate for Third Judicial District Attorney served as an employee under Murillo during her term as County Commissioner."
Fernando Macias, the democratic candidate for Dona Ana County District Attorney served as County Manager while Mayor Diana Murillo held the District 2 Commissioner seat at the same time.
Currently, there is a lawsuit seeking to remove Mayor Murillo from her respective role filed by several residents. Two of those residents are now on the Governing Board, Fernando G. Herrera and Jose G. Garcia Jr seeking intervention from the state with governmental relations under Mayor Murillo's administration.
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