Council narrows city manager selection to three finalists

We're all comfortable with how things are going and what a tremendous job Ifo did bringing the city, the organization and the leaders together.”

Mayor Eric Enriquez

The Las Cruces City Council narrowed the pool of nine applicants for the open city manager position to three candidates during a closed session on March 18. In a news release the next day, the city released the names of the three finalists.

The three candidates are Sonya Delgado, assistant city manager and former parks and recreation director; David Sedillo, director of public works; and Ikani Taumoepeau, assistant city manager.

The other six applicants included Barbara Bencomo, chief administrative officer; Leeann DeMouche, director of finance; Christopher Faivre, deputy director of economic development; Timothy Pitts, deputy director of community development; Elizabeth Teeters, director of economic development; and Inspector General Charles Tucker.

The narrowing was the latest step in finding a new executive for New Mexico's second-largest city after City Manager Ifo Pili announced his resignation in February. The city manager leads a 1,800-person bureaucracy and a $519 million budget.

While the elected city council members set priorities, the city charter dictates that the day-to-day operations of executing those priorities – and the countless little decisions that affect the lives of Las Cruces residents – fall on the unelected city manager.

Pili's last day as city manager is March 31.

In a news release announcing Pili's resignation, the city said it would only accept internal applications to fill the position even though the council had not met in a formal session to discuss how they would search for a new leader.

Typically, municipalities seek candidates across the U.S. by hiring a search firm. New Mexico State University and Doña Ana County are also searching for new executives. Their governing councils elected to hire firms to provide them with a candidate list of people from across the country.

"The city manager hiring process was suggested by Ifo (Pili), who spoke individually with the city council members and got their OK to move forward," city communications director Mandy Guss told the Bulletin shortly after Pili's announcement.

During an interview on March 19, Mayor Eric Enriquez reiterated this process. 

"There have been no guarantees, and there has been no selection made," Enriquez said. “We want to give the first opportunity to those internal, based on what's taken place and how things have gone."

Enriquez and the other city councilors have spoken highly of Pili's time in Las Cruces. 

"We're all comfortable with how things are going and what a tremendous job Ifo did bringing the city, the organization and the leaders together," Enriquez said.

Following this process, the city said in a news release on March 18 that nine city staff applied for the position. According to Enriquez, during a closed meeting on Monday morning, the city council narrowed that list to three based on basic qualifications such as experience.

In interviews with the Bulletin, council members said consistency and stability are their top priorities.

"I feel like we're at a fork-in-the-road moment in Las Cruces," District 4 Councilor Johana Bencomo said. “I want to work with a city manager who exudes confidence and is willing to collaborate with a lot of folks."

Bencomo added the last two months in Las Cruces – including the killing of Jonah Hernandez and its aftermath – have greatly influenced her thinking.  

"I really want a city manager who brings continuity and stability and confidence," she said. “I think we have so many pieces of work moving that are transformational."

District 5 Councilor Becky Corran said something similar.

"I think that Ifo did a lot to establish a culture of valuing employees, emphasizing their importance and fulfilling the city's mission," Corran said.

Corran pointed to consistent employee pay raises as one way Pili's administration accomplished this.

"I think we've seen a lot of things like consistent pay raises, revisions of benefits and things like that. They have been really thoughtful management approaches that I hope show the employees that we value them," Corran said.

District 2 Councilor Bill Mattiace pointed to transparency as another feature he'd like to see.

"From my perspective, an ideal candidate should have experience leading all departments of a similar-sized city and a strong passion for transparency and open government. The candidate must act as a positive uniter so we can continue to focus on improving our community," Mattiace said in an emailed statement.

The council was set to meet next on Wednesdaym March 20, in closed session, to interview and discuss the three candidates.

New Mexico law allows boards to conduct interviews like this behind closed doors.