Javier Perea (Screen shot from KFOX-TV’s website)
Sunland Park is without a mayor once again after Javier Perea voluntarily relinquished the position on Friday.
Perea is urging the city council to hold another meeting that complies with the N.M. Open Meetings Act and plans to reapply for the appointment. Here’s part of his statement, published by the Las Cruces Sun-News:
“The city has the option to appeal the opinion and ask for a stay, but that is not the right thing to do for the people of Sunland Park. As such, I will accept the conclusion of the (attorney general) opinion and relinquish my title and the ability to perform in the official capacity as the mayor.”
The city council has not yet scheduled such a meeting.
Meanwhile, the lawyer for Jorge I. Angulo, who’s charged in the fraud case in Sunland Park, says the case against his client is weak. Also from the Sun-News:
“‘It is apparent that this was a perfunctory investigation without delving behind the gossip and without examination of relevant documents,’ said defense attorney Kenneth del Valle, who filed a motion Thursday seeking new release conditions for Angulo, who is being held on a $250,000 surety bond.”
Read more from the Sun-News here. Read the attorney’s motion here.