Alfonso "Al" Hernandez appointed to represent Alamogordo’s District 5 after split vote
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Summary
After a night of public comment and three candidate interviews, the Alamogordo City Commission voted 4-2 to appoint Alfonso (Al) Hernandez to the vacant District 5 seat; Hernandez was sworn in to serve through Dec. 31, 2027.
Alfonso "Al" Hernandez was appointed Tuesday to fill the City of Alamogordo’s District 5 commission seat after the City Commission voted 4-2 following public interviews and extensive public comment.
Hernandez was nominated and the vote to appoint him carried 4-2 after an earlier nomination of Shelly Dovanic Barron failed on a 3-3 vote. The commission administered the oath of office immediately; Hernandez’s term runs through Dec. 31, 2027.
The appointment followed nearly an hour of public comment in which residents debated whether the commission should choose a candidate or pursue other options. Katie Owens of Democracy Otero County said the process risked appearing prearranged: "There are 3 city commissioners want to push through their candidate," she said, calling the conduct "not democratic." Other speakers endorsed different finalists; Jacob Justice and Jan Breending urged the commission to pick the candidate they considered most qualified for District 5.
Hernandez, who told the commission he has lived in District 5 his whole life and has prior experience on the commission, responded to criticisms about his record and described decades of local volunteer work and public projects. "I have been a resident of Alamogordo all of my life," he said during his interview, and recounted projects he said were undertaken while he previously served on the commission.
Two finalists who were interviewed earlier in the evening had emphasized different priorities. Shelly Dovanic Barron, a retired city engineer, said her priorities would include a long-term public-works master plan, addressing aging infrastructure and improving communications with the public. Vesta Sheree Edmond highlighted grassroots work in District 5, youth training and neighborhood cleanups.
Commission discussion before the vote centered on qualifications, community engagement and whether the body should allow a special election for the vacancy; city staff said a special election is not an available option for an appointment and estimated a past special election cost roughly $20,000.
Hernandez was sworn in at the meeting and accepted the responsibilities of the office.
