GRANTS, N.M. – Tensions have escalated in Grants, New Mexico, following an alleged altercation at City Hall involving Mayor Erik Garcia and City Councilor George Garcia. The ongoing legal entanglements and recent virtual court hearings have brought to light numerous complexities and personal conflicts, causing ripples of concern throughout the community, and further fracturing an already lame-duck government.
The seeds of this conflict were sown earlier in the year when a dispute about public safety and the use of tax revenue caused issues in the government. This conflict was further compounded when a dispute erupted between councilors as to where a new police station and magistrate court should be located. Councilor Garcia and another councilor wanted it located in the library, after a tie vote, Mayor Garcia voted against relocating the Cibola Magistrate Court to the library. Since these disputes, the government had become more tense, leading to the events of May 19.
The special city council meeting held in the evening of May 19 was originally convened to debate Mayor Garcia’s proposal to rotate the Mayor Pro tem position. Since this government was established in April 2022, Councilor Garcia has served in the Pro tem position. At the foundation of the government, the mayor had proposed rotating the position, and had intended to pass the position to Councilor Fred Rodarte. At that meeting, the council voted against changing the Pro tem, with Mayor Garcia asking why but getting no response. That meeting concluded with the councilors retiring. According to an extensive report received thanks to an Inspection of Public Records Act request, an alleged physical altercation between the mayor and Councilor Garcia occurred shortly after the camera’s turned off. The incident, according to Cibola County Sheriff’s Office records, took place outside the office of then-Grants City Manager Donald Jaramillo, making him the only witness.
Details from the sheriff's records suggest that after the meeting's adjournment, Councilor Garcia was allegedly obstructed in the hallway by Mayor Garcia, using his elbow to allegedly shove the councilor. Amid an ensuing verbal altercation, Councilwoman Beverly Michael entered the scene, urging Mayor Garcia to repeat his inflammatory remarks. After the alleged altercation ended, Councilor Garcia visited Cibola General Hospital, receiving a diagnosis of a Thoracic Back Sprain. He later conveyed his intention to press charges.
During the course of the investigation, the Grants City Council voted unanimously to terminate Mayor Garcia’s contract on July 26. As a backdrop to the ongoing legal situation, after six weeks the city remains without a manager.
The incident's murky details prompted the Cibola Citizen newspaper to procure records via an Inspection of Public Records Request. When confronted with these records, Mayor Garcia stated he had no recollection of the events described, expressing surprise at the ongoing investigation, saying that before the Cibola Citizen confronted him, he did not know he was being investigated by CCSO.
Months later, when charges were finally filed and the Cibola Citizen was able to receive unredacted paperwork that names Mayor Garcia as the suspect, the case's legal proceedings had become incredibly murky.
First, CCSO had a difficult time identifying a court to prosecute this case. The 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office declined to prosecute this case, with a court representative saying, “This office did review the case but we determined there was a conflict. So, we referred the case to the administrative offices of the district attorneys. I believe they have agreed to take the case. Once we determined there was a conflict and referred the case, we no longer have any control over what happens to the case or what is happening with the case.”
Initially, this case, identified by the New Mexico court system as M-61-MR-202300151 landed in the Cibola County Magistrate Court, with Judge Johnny Valdez presiding.
In a surprising turn, Valdez recused himself after the first hearing on September 8. The details and rationale behind his recusal remained undisclosed despite inquiries by the Cibola Citizen as our request for information was not returned by press deadline.
The case was later overseen by Judge Tony Mace, who also stepped down for reasons that are, as of press deadline, undisclosed. The newspaper has also sought clarity from the Administrative Office of the District Attorney, which is overseeing the prosecution, but hasn't received a response.
In the virtual court hearing with Valdez, Mayor Garcia, participating remotely, entered a plea of “not guilty”. He faces a series of stipulations, including abstaining from illegal drugs — not cannabis, which is a legal drug in New Mexico, and the mayor’s profession outside of government — and restrictions on communication with key figures involved in the case, including the former city manager. Valdez established these restrictions before recusing himself from the case.
The Cibola Citizen has asked the Administrative Office of the Courts if the Cibola County Magistrate Court is considered a neutral venue for this lawsuit because both Councilor Garcia and Mayor Garcia voted on opposite ends about where this court would be housed. The newspaper did not hear back by press deadline.
No city funds are being used in the prosecution or defense of this case. Instead, during the trial, because he cannot afford an attorney, Mayor Garcia asked the state to provide legal counsel.
Before the order was given that Mayor Garcia is not to have any communication with witnesses in this case, meaning former City Manager Donald Jaramillo, the mayor had kept in regular communication with the former manager for advice. With the courts latest order, that communication must come to an end.
After Jaramillo was terminated, the council showed its compounded dysfunction. At a meeting on August 23, dysfunction continued in the council. At a meeting that was set to have significant engagement with stakeholders from Gallup with the Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments, and to conduct necessary business for local business leaders, a row between two city councilors and the mayor led to the abrupt cancellation of the meeting before the council had even approved the agenda. This cancellation set business in the city back, forcing some business owners to stall their plans for at least an additional 90 days.
The chaos from city hall is being felt in all walks of life, with business owners and community members calling the Cibola Citizen regularly to inquire about the status of their