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Public raises concerns over alleged confrontation involving Commissioner Dennis Lopez; commissioners respond
Summary
Public commenters asked the commission to address social-media reports of an altercation involving Commissioner Dennis Lopez; Chair Dixon denied Lopez's involvement in the football-game incident, while Lopez described being verbally attacked at the county fair and encouraged individuals to contact him directly.
During public comment at the Oct. 1 meeting, community members asked the commission to address social-media reports alleging a physical confrontation involving Commissioner Dennis Lopez at a Roosevelt Rams football game.
Chris Gay told the commission he had read about an altercation online and asked why the county had not issued a factual statement to quash rumors, saying that if a commissioner had been involved in a physical altercation at a public event, the other commissioners should address it and consider resignation. Lacey Potts said the confrontation began earlier at the Roosevelt County Fair and urged action.
Commission Chair Tina Dixon responded on the record that Commissioner Lopez was not involved in the altercation, was not at the football game and was not in town on the day of the game. Commissioner Lopez also spoke to the issue in open session, saying he was with his family and said he was approached at the fair and verbally attacked and threatened by two men; he encouraged anyone who wants to discuss it to contact him directly and provided contact information.
No formal ethics inquiry or disciplinary action was proposed or voted on during the meeting, and commissioners did not direct staff to open an investigation on the public record. The subject remained a matter of public comment and elected-official response in the minutes for this meeting.
