EDGEWOOD CORE

Citizens for an Open and Responsible Edgewood

On March 9, the Albuquerque Journal published this article by Isabella Alves:

Judge tells Edgewood officials to end ‘petty disputes’

Copyright © 2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE – In a strongly worded order, 1st Judicial District Judge Kathleen McGarry Ellenwood told the town of Edgewood to stop using the courts to settle its “petty disputes” and said the town must begin preparing for its government transition.

Edgewood citizens voted last summer to replace the current council-mayor form of government with a commissioner-manager style. Voters turned out in record numbers for a special election in August to sanction the change, but since then infighting among town councilors has kept it from happening.

The change in the form of government would require the town to set up five electoral districts and hire a town manager, but that hasn’t happened yet. Councilors Sherry Abraham and Audrey Jaramillo sued the other two members of the Governing Body to force the issue.

During the hearing, the town clerk indicated the town hired a company to do the redistricting. However, Abraham and Jaramillo said they were excluded from the selection process.

Ellenwood ordered that Abraham and Jaramillo need to stop being excluded from town decisions so they can “discharge their duty of oversight … because of the systematic elimination of public discourse in Town meetings.”

Ellenwood also told councilors that this was the third writ of mandamus – a legal filing that orders government officials to do their elected duty – filed this year for the town. The writs are only supposed to be used as an “extraordinary remedy,” she said.

Ellenwood said that the Governing Body members are supposed to be responsible for running the town but that they’re “more concerned with squabbling with each other.”

In the meantime, she said, the town would continue to operate as a council-mayor form of government and fill former Mayor John Bassett’s seat on the council.

Bassett was removed from office last year for violating the town’s nepotism ordinance by appointing his first cousin to the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission. The town has appealed Bassett’s removal as mayor to the New Mexico Supreme Court.

Since his removal, the four-member Town Council has been stalemated with 2-2 votes.

In addition, Ellenwood said Councilor John Abrams, who is also acting mayor, needs to allow other councilors to add agenda items, which he has not been doing. Also, the judge said town meetings need to allow for a public comment period, which hasn’t happened since Abrams assumed the role of acting mayor last fall.

Town Gone Off the Rails!

Information Categories

About This Site

C.O.R.E. is a group of concerned citizens working to inform residents and restore integrity and fiscal responsibility to Edgewood, NM.

Contact Us