2 Las Vegas ex-employees sue over terminations

LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) — Two former employees of a northern New Mexico city are suing after they were fired before their contracts were set to expire. The Las Vegas Optic reports former Las Vegas, New Mexico City Attorney Dave Romero and former City Manager Elmer Martinez recently filed their lawsuits over their terminations shortly after Mayor Tonita Gurule-Giron took office. Lawyers for Romero, who had been the city's attorney since 2012, said in a complaint no reason was given for his termination. Court documents say Gurule-Giron fired Martinez after he questioned her demands to dismiss a longstanding water lawsuit without the approval of city council. A spokeswoman for Gurule-Giron did not immediately return an email to The Associated Press.