Investigation Of Former Las Cruces Councilor Dropped

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) – An ethics board says an investigation into complaints against former Las Cruces City Councilor Jose Frietze won’t go forward because he’s no longer in office.

The city convened the Ethics Ordinance Enforcement Board to decide what to do about an independent attorney’s preliminary investigation into two ethics complaints against Frietze.

The complaints allege Frietze didn’t disclose a series of land transactions between a Las Cruces developer and nonprofit groups he oversees.

The independent attorney concluded the complaints warranted more investigation. But the ethics code is meant for public employees — and no longer applies to Frietze.

He lost his council seat when he lost a bid for re-election last month.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)