Berry to be interviewed for commission

The Republican candidate for the vacant Valencia County Commission District 5 seat has an interview scheduled with the governor’s chief of staff on Friday.

Dante Berry is the only candidate running for the seat on the November ballot, a seat that has been vacant since the end of March, when Jhonathan Aragon resigned from the position to take the job of deputy county manager.

Berry’s interview follows that of Democrat Christian Garcia, which took place more than a month ago.

When Aragon stepped down, creating a vacancy, it then fell to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to appoint a replacement, as per state law. After three months of waiting, it seemed the appointment process had reached a stalemate.

The governor’s communication staff told the News-Bulletin they needed to receive a formal notification of vacancy before a search could be initiated.

Valencia County Manager Danny Monette said the county has never notified the state of a vacancy in the past.

Somehow, the governor’s office became aware of the vacancy and apparently interviewed Garcia some time in June.

At the Wednesday, July 3, Valencia County Commission meeting, the commissioners voted 4-0 to approve a resolution recommending Berry be appointed to the vacant District 5 commission seat.

“I am greatly honored for the recommendation,” Berry told the commissioners at last week’s meeting. “I am very excited to get started.”

During a phone interview on Tuesday, Berry said he is scheduled for an interview with the governor’s Chief of Staff Daniel Schlegel at 2 p.m., Friday, July 12.