The City of Grants has faced a brutal hurdle in correcting what was a City Charter violation, but this whole situation should never have gone this far.
After months of controversy, the Grants City Council finally acted and removed Dolores Vallejos from the District 1 seat. I believe this was the right decision. But I do not think anyone should be pretending this was some great moment for city government. It was a necessary correction after far too much confusion, delay, and damage to public trust.
And what bothers me most is that people keep talking about this as though it were only a fight over votes.
It was not only about votes. It was about representation.
The people of District 1 were not just owed an election. They were owed legitimate representation.
When serious questions arise over whether someone actually lives in the district they were elected to represent, that is not some minor technicality people can wave away. If the public is left wondering whether they were honestly represented in the first place, then the problem is bigger than one seat. It becomes a question of whether the people were respected at all – It becomes a question of whether the people were respected at all, not just in the casting of ballots, but in the legitimacy of the candidacy itself.grateful And even after the residency issue was settled in Vallejos’ favor, the matter did not end there.
The second problem remained.
She was still holding another elected office while serving on the council. This was a known fact, but council gave Vallejos an opportunity to address the position.
Councilwoman Beverly Michael: Councilor, have you considered resigning from the Assessor’s Office to be in compliance with the Charter? At our oath of office – and I understand you didn’t know it was an issue – but in our oath of office it clearly states that ‘we will uphold the constitution of the United States, the constitution and laws of the state of New Mexico and the charter and laws of the City of Grants’. Our charter is saying and we now know that is says we can’t hold dual offices, is that something you have considered?
Vallejos: At this time my intentions are not to. I don’t know in a few months from now, my term is up in nine months. I may, or may not.
That was jarring. The Charter is not optional. It is not a suggestion. And when the city waits this long to enforce it, people understandably begin to lose confidence.
That is why I do not buy the idea that this was “selective enforcement.” No. What we saw was delayed enforcement. And delayed enforcement still does harm. It leaves the public wondering whether the rules matter only after enough embarrassment has piled up. It leaves a district of the city under a cloud. It leaves people asking why basic standards had to become a public spectacle before anyone acted.
The people of Grants – more than that – the people of Cibola County deserve better.
Cibola deserves officials who understand the offices they seek. Grants deserve leaders who know the Charter, respect it, and take the role seriously before taking the oath. That should not be too much to ask. That should be the minimum.
As we approach the 250th anniversary of American independence, I keep thinking about what self-government actually requires. Living through this charter chaos and House Bill 9 fight feels like a masterclass in local government, however frustrating it may be.
I have learned that government requires more than elections alone. Effective government requires seriousness. It requires standards. It requires people who understand that public offices are not ceremonial and that representation is not symbolic. It is a responsibility.
So yes, I am glad the council finally took corrective action. That was necessary. And I do not doubt it was difficult. I thank the Grants City Council for their work and for doing the right thing.
But let us also be honest: this city still has a Charter problem.
I know work is being done. I know there have been workshops and discussions. That is good. It needs to continue but it is quite late. Grants cannot keep stumbling from one Charter controversy to the next and expect public confidence to hold.
Public trust needs to be rebuilt.
For District 1. For the credibility of the council. And for the simple principle that the people of this city deserve honest representation.
I also believe this issue was serious enough that every council member should have been present. Without a valid reason, I was disappointed by Councilor Fred Rodarte’s absence. I asked why he was not there and, by deadline on March 17, did not receive a response.
God bless the people who take that responsibility seriously. God bless Cibola County. And God bless our troops.