Diego Lopez, Editor
GRANTS, N.M. – The City of Grants is embroiled in political turmoil as tensions between Mayor Erik Garcia and City Councilor George Garcia continue to spill from the Council Chamber to social media, and into the public view.
At the heart of their newest dispute is a $50,000 civil settlement paid from the City of Grants to Councilor Garcia following the first dispute where Mayor Garcia was eventually found guilty of committing battery against the councilor.
At the Grants City Council meeting on December 27, during council comments, Mayor Garcia raised questions about transparency, financial responsibility, and the broader state of governance in Grants, accusing the city council of conspiring against him to make the payment to Councilor Garcia. The accusation and concerns carried onto Facebook, and before long, both Garcias were locked in a battle for social media’s opinion.
The Settlement Controversy This settlement dispute is just the latest in a series of conflicts that have plagued Grants’ city government.
The settlement stems from an incident in May 2023 where Mayor Garcia was found guilty of shoving Councilor Garcia during a heated exchange outside the office of then-City Manager Donald Jaramillo. The altercation occurred only minutes after a contentious city council meeting where members voted to retain Councilor Garcia as mayor pro tem, defying Mayor Garcia’s request to rotate the position to a different councilor.
Following the incident, Councilor Garcia sought medical attention for a thoracic back sprain and announced his intention to press charges. Mayor Garcia was subsequently found guilty and convicted of battery, a petty misdemeanor, after a drawn-out legal process that saw multiple recusals from local judges.
Mayor Garcia was sentenced to community service, which he fulfilled.
The situation has only been further complicated by ongoing tensions within the council and with the city manager. Just weeks after the battery happened, the only witness to the event, the city manager, was fired by the Grants City Council, against the wishes of the mayor.
In a civil case filed by Councilor Garcia after the guilty verdict was made, the city paid $30,000 from the New Mexico Insurance Fund and $20,000 from the general budget to cover legal and medical expenses related to the incident. A total of $50,000 of taxpayer money.
In both social media posts and in the Grants Council Chambers, Mayor Garcia criticized the payout, alleging misuse of public funds.
“The settlement was unnecessary,” Mayor Garcia said. “[Councilor Garcia] went through the insurance fund, knowing it would come back on the city through increased premiums. That’s just hurting the city more.”
Councilor Garcia defended the settlement, emphasizing that it was a minimal amount to cover legitimate expenses.
“I had medical bills and legal fees. This wasn’t about enriching myself—it was about justice and accountability,” Councilor Garcia said. “If [Mayor Garcia] gets away with this kind of behavior, what message does that send to our community?”
Transparency and Truth
The settlement has sparked a public debate over transparency.
Mayor Garcia accused the council of mishandling the approval process, alleging that the settlement was rushed and not properly disclosed. He also took issue with Councilor Garcia’s involvement as a city councilor, questioning whether he should have abstained from discussions related to the payout.
Councilor Garcia, however, claimed he insisted on transparency by ensuring the settlement appeared on the council’s agenda. “I wanted everything to be above board,” he said. “This was about maintaining public trust, even though it’s been twisted into something else.”
The controversy has led to heated posts on social media, with both parties accusing each other of dishonesty. To nip this issue in the bud, Councilor Garcia clarified for the record that he does not and has not colluded with the other councilors against the mayor.
“I did not talk to them, I didn’t talk to anyone, I didn’t talk to [former Manager Jaramillo]. There was no collusion. The city manager and finance department handled the settlement process entirely,” Councilor Garcia said. “The council had no prior knowledge, and I abstained from voting because my name was involved.”
Mayor Garcia expressed frustration over what he sees as inefficiency and infighting, saying, “This kind of drama is preventing us from focusing on what really matters—improving our city.”
Costing the Taxpayers Money
Beyond the immediate fallout, the controversy highlights challenges facing Grants, including strained finances and public mistrust in local leadership. The city’s financial health has improved in recent years, but disputes like this threaten to undermine progress.
Councilor Garcia acknowledged the difficulty of the situation but emphasized the importance of addressing misconduct. “Yes, this has cost the city money, but it’s about setting a precedent,” he said. “People need to feel safe and respected in their workplace, no matter who they are.”
Despite the conflict between the mayor and councilor, both expressed the same care and excitement that city projects are being completed like necessary infrastructure improvements to roads and pipes, and the city’s financial health is in a good spot with the best audit it has seen in years. To the Cibola Citizen, both men expressed a desire to move past the conflict and continue moving the City of Grants forward.
“We have so much potential,” Mayor Garcia said. “But we need to get over this nonsense and focus on making Grants the best it can be.”