Candidates sign up for Sunland Park mayoral race

In just three months the city of Sunland Park will be looking for a new mayor.

Sunland Park has seen some tumultuous times when it comes to its government.

City leaders have been arrested for extortion, fraud, drug possession and even though the city has made progress some residents still want to disincorporate the city.

Wednesday two mayoral candidates told ABC-7 why they should
be the next leaders.

“What I’m bringing to the table is better communication and better leadership,” said Sergio Carrillo.

Carrillo was elected to represent District 4 in 2012.

Since then the councilman has been on the planning and zoning committee, the utilities board and served as mayor pro temp since 2013.

Carrillo said there needs to be more communication between elected leaders and residents of Sunland Park but Carrillo faces an uphill battle.

Last year the councilman was pulled over for a traffic stop. During the stop sheriff’s deputies smelled marijuana and asked to search the car. Carrillo denied them access. The next day he was arrested at a council meeting.

“The only thing I can say is that this is a political attack,” Carrillo said.

The councilman said he can’t talk about the incident because it’s an open case
but he wants to make it clear:

“I can assure you that I don’t have a drug problem. I do not do drugs. I do not carry drugs and it’s an unfortunate event,” Carrillo said.

Current mayor Javier Perea is running for re-election.

He said he understands how the recent arrests can give the city a black eye.

“Some of the things that (have) happened to them has been in their personal lives but unfortunately being a public figure that will have an effect on the city as a whole but that’s where the citizens will determine whether they want to see those people in office,” Perea said.

For now the mayor says he’s improved the city’s budget and he’s looking toward to the future.

“During the next term the focus is to spur economic development within the city of Sunland Park,” Perea told ABC-7.

Elections for Sunland Park are scheduled March 1st.