Familiar faces vie for city postion

By Zsombor Peter
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Gerald Herrera and Irvin Harrison are among the familiar names on a list of applicants vying to be Gallup's next city manager. They are two of the dozen people who submitted applications by Tuesday's deadline.

A month ago, Mayor Harry Mendoza scoffed at the very idea of accepting applications for the position he had just ejected Eric Honeyfield from, eager to get Herrera, a friend and campaign supporter, appointed as soon as possible. Pointing to a Gallup High School diploma as his only exhibit, the mayor said he had made up his mind that Herrera was the best person for the job.

Councilors Allan Landavazo and Pat Butler objected to appointing anyone before at least soliciting applications, but John Azua and Bill Nechero were apt to join the mayor so long as it was legal.

As it turned out, it wasn't. The city had no choice but to advertise the vacancy thanks to a 2004 lawsuit it settled with the U.S. Justice Department that accused it of discriminating against Native American job applicants. In addition to paying out a total of $300,000 to valid claimants, the city agreed to advertise all vacancies including city manager.

Ironically, Harrison was among the Native Americans who brought the discrimination to the Justice Department's attention, after the city passed him over for economic development director. He turned down the job a few months ago after Azua, Mendoza and Nechero decided to kick Glen Benefield out of the seat for fear of rumors that the mayor wanted to eliminate the position. In his rejection letter, he states a preference for something more secure.

A former state representative, Harrison now works as executive assistant to Public Regulation Commissioner Carol Sloan.

With the mayor's preference for Herrera well established, the city could set itself up for another lawsuit if it passes over someone more qualified, especially a Native American. But City Attorney George Kozeliski rejected the idea that Harrison's bid for the job puts any extra pressure on the City Council.

"(Harrison) doesn't complicate anything," he said. "He's just an applicant like anyone else."

City staff are still reviewing the applications to weed out anyone who does not meet the job's minimum qualifications. Interviews with some or all of the applicants who do qualify typically follow, Kozeliski said.

But they do not have to. If the council places the item on its Tuesday evening agenda, it could vote in a new city manager then and there.

The council had scheduled a closed meeting for today to discuss unspecified "personnel matters," but has since canceled. Kozeliski said the council could still call a closed meeting Tuesday, however.

Gallup has been without a city manager since June 11, when Honeyfield resigned at Mendoza's request. Public Works Director Stan Henderson has been filling in.