SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (AP) — A former New Mexico Oil and Gas Association president has been named interim city manager of a troubled New Mexico border city.
The Sunland Park city council voted 4-3 during a heated meeting to hire former New Mexico State University regent Bob Gallagher to a $56,000 six-month contract. Under the terms of the deal, Gallagher will work two weeks per month.
The vote comes as two Sunland City councilors face legal problems stemming from separate arrests.
One councilor was arrested recently during a council meeting on drug charges and another was arrested on allegations he gave beer to his 19-year-old girlfriend.
Sunland Park has been without a full-time city manager for a year now, after firing Vernon Wilson a year ago.