Finance Director Candi Williams Takes Role as Interim Manager
Arieanna Crowson, Reporter
MILAN, N.M. – On December 4, Village of Milan Manager Linda Cooke informed Mayor Felix Gonzales of her resignation as village manager. Following this Gonzales appointed Finance Director Candi Williams as the interim manager until they can fill the role with a new full-time village manager.
Cooke who was the village manager for two years suddenly decided to resign following a meeting on December 4 following a meeting. Gonzales said that she had specific personal reasons for the resignation, but he didn’t want to elaborate further. Following this Gonzales immediately met with Williams and asked her if she would be the interim manager until they can fill the roll with a new full-time manager.
Gonzales spoke very highly of Cooke and said that she appreciated the time she worked as the village manager and that she thanked him for all the work that he has done for the village and the opportunities that he gave her. He said, “It was sad to see her go… Of course, we had difference, but we were always able to communicate… I was kind of sad, but you have to keep the village going.” Gonzales also spoke about the letter of resignation that he received from Cooke, “Her letter of resignation was really nice, she appreciated everything I did. She wished the village luck, and hope that they will find the right person to run the village. That’s what we are going to do, try and find the right person again.”
The village is in no rush to find a new manager according to Gonzales due to the holidays. He said, “Maybe two to three months [Williams] will be the interim. By then hopefully we will put it out, and we’ll interview and hopefully pick a good person.” Gonzales also feels that despite Cooke resigning that the current employees will be able to perform their jobs and the village will keep moving forward as normal. He said, “Every [employee] here, they know what they do. They all have a part of it… we’re moving forward… I have all the faith in the world in [these employees] and we’re going to be good. We’re doing good now, we’re going to continue to be good.”
Gonzales is also very confident in Willams ability to be the interim village manager. He said, “I think with Candi being the interim, we’re in good hands. We’re in very good hands. She is very knowledgeable.” Gonzales also said that he approached Williams following his meeting with Cooke and asked her to be the interim, he also mentioned that he asked her if she felt comfortable being the interim along Courtesy Photo with all of her other responsibilities as the finance director. At coffee with the managers held on December 7 Williams also restated this saying that she feels comfortable taking on the role as interim, she also mentioned that she has had to be interim manager before.
The village also wants to avoid any rumors spreading regarding the resignation.
Gonzales said, “What I don’t want is rumors, and they are horrible sometimes… But the public do what they do.” Gonzales said that he has taken the brunt of the questions regarding the resignation and that he wants everyone who has questions to come to him. He also said that he has been meeting with the various department heads to let them know the situation and what they are doing moving forward. Gonzales said, “[After the resignation] you got to get with the rest of the staff and tell that we are going forward. Tell them how we’re going to do it. They tell me what they think they are going to do, because I value their opinion a lot, because it’s a family affair.”