Doa Ana County Commissioner John Vasquez resigns
Doña Ana County Commissioner John Vasquez announced his resignation Thursday following allegations of sexual misconduct.
The ABC-7 New Mexico Mobile Newsroom obtained Vasquez’s resignation letter to Chairman Benjamin Rawson in which Vasquez outlined his accomplishments during his time as commissioner.
In the letter he also dismissed the allegations of sexual misconduct made by Neomi Martinez-Parra, the Democratic Party vice chair for New Mexico, calling her claims “completely unsubstantiated.”
“I stand by my statement that I have nothing to merit the allegation” Vasquez wrote. “She has ruined my career, my name, and hurt my marriage over allegations for which she has refused to provide any basis. There is no justice or honor in what the Democrat party has done.”
Vasquez also mention that he suffers from PTSD.
“I have been receiving treatment from the VA. My heart and my marriage are more important to me than the position of Commissioner,” he said. “My party, in its zealousness, has show they do not have compassion for individuals with PTSD, and they don’t care about the truth.”
On Feb. 12, Martinez-Parra said she was a target of unwanted sexual advanced by Vasquez. She said in a letter that she strongly disagreed with a proposal from New Mexico Democratic Party chairman Richard Ellenburg-that she not pursue a complaint in exchange for Vasquez resigning from a post.”
In January, Vasquez made a post about a female constituent’s mother calling her, “Ghetto.” He defended his post saying, “This was not about a ‘yo momma joke.’ I actually received texts from someone named Martha Bencomo who is asking for an endorsement.”
The comments were related to a post by Vasquez denouncing political endorsements from elected officials. Vasquez had posted that he endorsed Johana Bencomo’s mother, although it turned out a different Bencomo was running for office. Then another post saying Martha Bencomo sent him a private message asking for unspecified, “weird favors.”
Commissioner John L. Vasquez took office Jan. 1, 2017. His four-year term would’ve ended Dec. 31, 2020.
