Mesilla Mayor Removes Marshal

MESILLA, N.M. (AP) – Mesilla Mayor Michael Cadena has removed the town’s marshal, Angelo Vega, a day short of Vega’s one-year anniversary in the job.

Vega says he doesn’t know why he was removed Monday. He says he hadn’t received any reprimands or complaints about his job performance.

Cadena says he can’t discuss his reasons for dismissing Vega because it’s a personnel matter. He also says performance reviews for exempt employees, such as Vega, typically are done in June.

The firing comes several months after a dispute between Cadena and Vega over Cadena’s use of a marshal’s vehicle. Deputy Marshal Jeremy Hash has been named interim marshal.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)