Statement From Former Sunland Park Mayor Javier Perea

Statement by Sunland Park’s most recent former mayor Javier Perea

Late yesterday afternoon the City received a fax copy of an opinion issued by the Attorney General Office in reference to a complaint they had received concerning the City Council meeting last week. In that meeting, I was duly elected the Mayor of our City.

The complaint alleged that people, who could not fit into the Senior Center because of the occupancy load, could not hear the discussion of the council and no effort was made by the City to afford the overflow crowd the opportunity to hear the discussion. The opinion of the Attorney General appears to contradict itself on several matters, but concludes that the vote taken last week is void and thus I am no longer the Mayor of Sunland Park. The City has the option to appeal the opinion and ask for a stay, but that is not the right thing to do for the people of Sunland Park. As such, I will accept the conclusion of the opinion and relinquish my title and ability to perform in the official capacity as the Mayor.

I would urge the majority of the City Council to immediately take the necessary steps to give notice of a new meeting utilizing the City’s open meetings act resolution as a guide and take action to allow all those who attend to be able to hear the discussion and vote. At that meeting the agenda should be identical to the one used last week, a summary of the discussion and actions taken at the first meeting should be read aloud and the council should then proceed to an election of a Mayor.

I have been in communication with the New Mexico Municipal League as well as the Attorney General Office and informed them of my decision. I very much appreciate their efforts in reaching a quick decision concerning the complaint. It is time to move forward and not look backward; the citizens of the community deserve just that. I pledge my full cooperation in moving to immediately have a meeting of the city council. I look forward to a reaffirmation of the vote from last week and will then take immediate steps as Mayor to put our city operations back within the law and work to bring quality of life to all the residents of Sunland Park.

Javier Perea