NEWS
Holguin sworn in as Anthony's mayor amid controversy
Hits back with tort claim after accusations by predecessor
ANTHONY 鈥� Gabriel Holguin was sworn in Friday evening as Anthony鈥檚 new mayor. The council room at the municipal complex was packed for the bilingual ceremony celebrating a new administration for the city south of Las Cruces.
Holguin could soon be a litigant against the city as well, having recently filed a tort claims notice alleging misconduct by Anthony police and malpractice by an attorney working on the city鈥檚 behalf, among other claims.
鈥淭his matter stems from actions under the prior administration that I believe misused municipal processes in a way that caused harm to members of the community, including myself,鈥� he told the Journal. 鈥淭his isn鈥檛 about politics or personal grievance. It鈥檚 about accountability.鈥�
Yet the complaints mainly stem from disputes with the prior administration and his political rival. On Friday, Holguin spoke of turning the page.
Holguin has drawn attention as one of the youngest elected officials in New Mexico history, elected to the city鈥檚 board of trustees at the age of 20 in 2021. On Nov. 4, he defeated incumbent Diana Murillo for the position of mayor at age 24, making him the youngest mayor to assume office since Javier Perea was appointed as Sunland Park鈥檚 mayor, also at 24, in 2012.
Holguin took his oath of office along with newly elected Trustee Genaro Soriano, who was elected to an open seat on the board along with incumbent Daniel Barreras in the Nov. 4 election. Barreras did not participate in Friday's event. Holguin and Soriano were sworn in by state District Judge Robert Lara and Do帽a Ana County Magistrate Judge Rosenda Chavez-Lara. They will take office on Jan. 1.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a change in Anthony, and those of us that live here know that it鈥檚 taken us four years to fight, to take back our community and to put the people first,鈥� Holguin said in a brief address after he took the oath. 鈥淲orking together with Mr. Soriano, with the board, we will do a lot of change. It may be slow change but I guarantee you that we鈥檙e always thinking about the community first.鈥�
Holguin鈥檚 tort filing followed Murillo鈥檚 dramatic unveiling of the complaint while presiding at her final board meeting as mayor on Dec. 17. Murillo鈥檚 bid for a third term as mayor was defeated by Holguin, who won last month鈥檚 election by 238 votes, or 59% of the official vote count.
A tort claim can be a precursor to civil litigation but does not rule out the possibility of settling disputes and averting a lawsuit.
Holguin鈥檚 filing names Murillo and Anthony Police Chief Vanessa Ordo帽ez, who is leaving her position at the end of the month ahead of a run for Do帽a Ana County Sheriff, as well as the New Mexico Municipal League and the New Mexico Self-Insurers Fund, whom Holguin accuses of negligent supervision of attorney Benjamin Young, when Young was appointed to assist the city on certain matters.
Earlier this year, Young authored a letter requesting an investigation into grievances by city employees that named members of the city鈥檚 governing board, including Holguin.
The letter also alleged that Holguin and Trustee Jesus Garcia had both sought to influence the police department over traffic tickets they had received. Holguin, for his part, alleges in his tort notice that police submitted a September traffic citation both to the county magistrate court and Anthony鈥檚 municipal court, resulting in conflicting court requirements, a bench warrant and harm to his reputation and driving record.
Holguin further alleges that Young鈥檚 letter was not authorized by the governing board, that it made false allegations and was publicized for political reasons.
Holguin submitted the notice in his personal capacity rather than in his official role at the city.
However, if legal action proceeds, he may preside over meetings in which the city鈥檚 trustees discuss and authorize legal action on matters in which Holguin is a plaintiff.
If it came to that, Holguin said he would recuse himself 鈥渇rom any city discussions, votes, or authorizations related to the matter.鈥�
An earlier version of this story included a misstatement about the official results of the trustees' election and has been corrected.
