Alamogordo commission votes 5–2 to hire Robert Stockwell as city manager amid process objections

The Alamogordo City Commission voted 5–2 on June 15 to hire Robert Stockwell as the city’s city manager after an executive session on city manager recruitment and hiring.

The commission recessed into a closed session to discuss limited personnel matters, citing NMSA for the applicable executive-session exception. The chair read a statement after the closed session that the discussion had been limited to recruitment and that an interview was conducted with Robert Stockwell.

Commissioner Baxter Patillo moved to hire Stockwell, and Commissioner Al Hernandez seconded the motion, according to the chair’s announcement. The motion carried by a recorded vote of 5 in favor and 2 opposed.

Following the vote, Mayor McDonald, who participated by phone, said she objected to the process and the lack of transparency. "No problem with the candidate, just with the process," the mayor said.

Earlier in the open session a participant raised a procedural objection, asking whether an individual identified as Mr. Strickland had been included in the executive session and citing Robert's Rules of Order. The chair responded that the executive session had been limited to the city manager recruitment and hiring.

The commission then moved to adjourn. The meeting record shows the series of motions and votes concluding with the appointment of Stockwell; no additional public comment was taken on the hiring during the open session.

What happens next: The commission recorded the appointment during this special meeting; the transcript does not specify Stockwell’s start date, employment terms, or whether a written contract was approved. Those details were not included in the meeting record and are listed as not specified.