New Hobbs City mayor sworn in; commission selects Joe Caldwell as mayor pro tem

The Hobbs City Commission held an organizational meeting in which four newly elected officials were administered the oath of office and the commission selected a mayor pro tem.

Judge Efren Cortez administered oaths of office for the mayor and three commissioners during a brief swearing-in ceremony. During his oath, the new mayor repeated the phrase recorded in the transcript as “I, Jonathan Sinek, do solemnly swear…that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution and the laws of the State of New Mexico, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of the office of mayor of the City of Hobbs.” The mayor later offered brief remarks about collaboration and a shared vision for the city.

Following the swearing-in, the commission moved to select a mayor pro tem pursuant to the Hobbs City Charter. A motion to appoint Commissioner Joe Caldwell as mayor pro tem was moved and seconded; the roll-call vote recorded six “yes” votes and one “pass” (Commissioner Calderon), and the nomination carried. The motion was recorded in the transcript as moved by the commissioner who spoke at SEG 353 and seconded at SEG 357.

The meeting record also notes the commission had met in a closed session earlier the same day at 5:00 p.m. to discuss pending litigation and that no action was taken in that session. The commission approved the minutes of the Dec. 15, 2025 regular meeting and adopted the consent agenda by recorded vote.

The meeting concluded after staff presentations and a brief series of ceremonial remarks.