Discrimination complaint againts city denied by state
Gallup sees its share of race complaints, lawsuits

City attorney David Pederson attends the city council meeting at city hall Tuesday. — © 2009 Gallup Independent / Cable Hoover

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Bernie Dotson
Staff writer

GALLUP — With an appeal deadline now gone, the city can put away yet another complaint alleging job discrimination because of race or national origin.

The city’s most recent complaint on the subject stems from a case involving Malcolm “Skip” Curley, who claimed he was passed over for the city manager’s job two years ago because he was Native American.

Curley, of Fort Defiance and of Navajo descent, was one of 12 applicants who applied for the city manager job, left vacant in June 2007 after Eric Honeyfield departed — albeit under duress — for a similar position in Hobbs. Shortly after the job was filled in mid-July, Curley made contact with the New Mexico Human Rights Commission.

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