Latest news with #governmentconduct
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
State Ethics Commission reaches settlement with Cuba mayor to resolve misconduct claim
May 30—SANTA FE — The State Ethics Commission has entered into a settlement agreement with a northern New Mexico mayor accused of benefitting from a directive that required village-owned vehicles to be refueled at a gas station he owns. The settlement agreement between the commission and Cuba Mayor Denny Herrera entered into this week avoids potential legal action by resolving all claims in the dispute. While not acknowledging any wrongdoing, Herrera agreed to pay $2,500 to the state and an additional $1,000 to the village of Cuba. After an investigation prompted by an online complaint, the Ethics Commission found reason to believe Herrera improperly benefited from a village directive that required employees to only use the convenience store he owns to refuel their government vehicles. The state Governmental Conduct Act specifically prohibits public officers from selling, or offering to sell, goods or services through businesses they own to employees under their supervision. While that law provides for both criminal and civil penalties, the State Ethics Commission does not have the authority to file criminal charges, said the commission's deputy director Amelia Bierle. Cases in which such charges could be filed are typically referred to district attorneys or Attorney General Raúl Torrez's office for review, she added. As part of the settlement agreement, Herrera informed Cuba in writing about his ownership of the gas station. He also clarified that village employees can gas up their work cars at any establishment that accepts special government debit cards. The settlement agreement did not specify how many such gas stations are located in Cuba, which had a population of 628 people as of 2020, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Herrera became Cuba's mayor after winning a three-way race in March 2022 with more than two-thirds of the 234 votes cast. He could not immediately be reached for comment Friday, and his attorney in the settlement agreement, Tom Hnasko, said he was not available to discuss its terms.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
State Ethics Commission reaches settlement with Cuba mayor to resolve misconduct claim
May 30—SANTA FE — The State Ethics Commission has entered into a settlement agreement with a northern New Mexico mayor accused of benefitting from a directive that required village-owned vehicles to be refueled at a gas station he owns. The settlement agreement between the commission and Cuba Mayor Denny Herrera entered into this week avoids potential legal action by resolving all claims in the dispute. While not acknowledging any wrongdoing, Herrera agreed to pay $2,500 to the state and an additional $1,000 to the village of Cuba. After an investigation prompted by an online complaint, the Ethics Commission found reason to believe Herrera improperly benefited from a village directive that required employees to only use the convenience store he owns to refuel their government vehicles. The state Governmental Conduct Act specifically prohibits public officers from selling, or offering to sell, goods or services through businesses they own to employees under their supervision. While that law provides for both criminal and civil penalties, the State Ethics Commission does not have the authority to file criminal charges, said the commission's deputy director Amelia Bierle. Cases in which such charges could be filed are typically referred to district attorneys or Attorney General Raúl Torrez's office for review, she added. As part of the settlement agreement, Herrera informed Cuba in writing about his ownership of the gas station. He also clarified that village employees can gas up their work cars at any establishment that accepts special government debit cards. The settlement agreement did not specify how many such gas stations are located in Cuba, which had a population of 628 people as of 2020, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Herrera became Cuba's mayor after winning a three-way race in March 2022 with more than two-thirds of the 234 votes cast. He could not immediately be reached for comment Friday, and his attorney in the settlement agreement, Tom Hnasko, said he was not available to discuss its terms.
