City Council confirmation required before Allsup’s manager, father of nine can serve
GRANTS, N.M. – Grants Mayor Erik Garcia has appointed Mervin Victorino to fill the vacant District 1 seat on the Grants City Council, setting up another council decision in the city’s months-long effort to restore representation to the district.
The appointment is expected to come before the Grants City Council at its next regular meeting on July 29,2026. Victorino cannot serve unless the governing body confirms the mayor’s appointment.
Victorino, 49, is from the Pueblo of Acoma, graduated from Grants High School in 1995 and currently manages the Allsup’s on Roosevelt Avenue. He said he has lived in Grants for about seven years and resides in Valencia Village, inside District 1.
He is also a father of nine, including six children of his own, two stepchildren and a foster child. Victorino said he and his girlfriend also work with CYFD to provide a safe home for a child in need.
Who is Mervin Victorino?
“My name is Mervin Victorino,” he said during a sit-down interview at Taco Village on Tuesday. “I’m from the Pueblo of Acoma. I reside down on Roosevelt at Valencia Village, and I’m currently the store manager at Allsup’s down here on Roosevelt.”
The District 1 seat has been vacant since March, when the Grants City Council found former Councilor Dolores Vallejos met the Charter’s residency requirement but violated the Charter’s dual-office rule because she also serves as Cibola County Assessor. Vallejos was asked to leave the dais after the Grants City Council ruled her ineligible to serve as Grants Councilor under the City Charter.
Under the Grants City Charter, when a council seat becomes vacant, the mayor appoints a qualified successor subject to confirmation by the governing body. The appointee serves until the next regular municipal election for that position.
Garcia previously nominated Tannin Cash for the District 1 seat, but that appointment did not move forward after no councilor made a motion to approve or deny the appointment – the motion died for lack of interest.
Garcia said Tuesday, in a separate sit-down interview at Coyote Del Malpais Golf Course, that he submitted Victorino’s name in time for council to consider the appointment at the July 29 meeting.
“I put a name in front of the Grants City Council on Sunday, so it gives enough time for it to get on the agenda and council can decide,” Garcia said.
Garcia explained that he chose Victorino because he lives in the district and knows the community.
“He manages the Allsup’s,” Garcia said.
Garcia said he did not know Victorino well before considering him for the appointment and said he did not ask about his political affiliation. City elections are nonpartisan.
“No. No, I just picked him,” Garcia said when asked if Victorino had expressed interest before being approached. “I picked an average Joe.”
The mayor said he wanted someone who lives in District 1 and understands everyday residents.
“He lives in the district,” Garcia said. “He would be the first Native appointed to a City of Grants council position. He’s an average Joe and he is very nice. I picked someone from District 1 who knows his community.”
Garcia also praised Victorino as someone he believes could serve well.
“For the last five years, serving on this council, Mervin is as good, if not better, than all the people who have served here before – except maybe Zach Gutierrez,” Garcia said, referring to former District 1 Councilor Zachery Gutierrez, who also previously served by appointment.
Victorino said Garcia approached him about the possibility of serving, and he asked for time to think and speak with his family.
“Mr. Garcia was the one that actually came to me about the position for a councilor,” Victorino said. “I told him that I would think about it and to give me a few days or so to talk to my family about it. I’ve never had a position like that in my life.”
Victorino said he was not expecting to be asked, but he is willing to learn if council confirms him.
“I want to make sure I’m the right guy,” Victorino said. “Not just, ‘Here’s this guy. Let’s go ask him.’ I’m okay with it. I’m down. I’m a quick learner.”
Victorino said his work at Allsup’s has helped him get to know people throughout Grants, especially along Roosevelt Avenue and the neighborhoods around District 1.
“Grants is a small town,” Victorino said. “Everybody knows everybody.”
He said many customers already know him by name, “I like to talk to people,” Victorino said. “I’m a people person. I’ll talk to anybody. As long as you want to talk, we’re talking.”
Victorino said being from the area matters to him. He was born in Grants, grew up in Cibola County, graduated from Grants High School and has spent most of his life in the area.
“Home is home,” Victorino said. “I love Grants.” He also said being Native American and potentially representing District 1 would be meaningful.
If confirmed, Victorino would be the first Native American to represent District 1.
“I didn’t know that, but that would mean a lot, not only to me and my family, but to the Native American community,” Victorino said. “I know there’s a lot of Native Americans that live in the area, and putting a Native American in that seat will help out a lot in this area.”
Victorino said he had not expected the process to move this quickly and thought councilors would contact him before the meeting.
“I was expecting to hear from the other councilors, talking to me about this,” Victorino said. “I don’t know if this is the right route. I don’t know. But I’m down for it.”
Councilors React
The Cibola Citizen reached out to Councilors Beverly Michael, George Garcia and Fred Rodarte by press deadline Tuesday. Only Councilor George Garcia responded.
“I don’t know the individual,” George Garcia said by text. “I’m waiting for some background information. I have not been contacted yet.”
After being told Victorino was under the impression councilors might contact him, George Garcia said he believed the process should work differently.
“That is backwards,” Councilor Garcia said. “If someone is interested in the position they should reach out to the council members.”
After 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Councilwoman Beverly Michael wrote, “I don’t know Mr. Victorino. I was told about him yesterday and will be reaching out to him.”
The council’s decision on July 29 will determine whether District 1 again has a representative at the dais.
Until then, Victorino remains the mayor’s nominee – a store manager, father and longtime Cibola County resident who says he is willing to learn the job if given the opportunity.
“I’m pretty sure it’s going to take a lot,” Victorino said. “But I’m a fast learner and I love Grants.”