Peralta mayor hired as new Socorro County manager

Newly-elected Peralta Mayor Joseph “Joe” Chavez now has another title and another position after the long holiday weekend.

Chavez was named the new Socorro County manager over the weekend, said Socorro County Commission Chairman Joe Gonzales, who confirmed the hiring via text message on Saturday.

“I am honored to take on the role of county manager, and I am eager to begin work in the community,” Chavez said.

“I look forward to providing clear discussions with the commissioners to ensure a safe and healthy quality of life for the community, as well as upholding a positive and professional image.”

Chavez said his experience includes 10 years as the jail warden for Valencia County, managing large budgets, procurements, contracts and staff.

“Additionally, being the mayor for the town of Peralta will continuously give me experience as an elected official benefiting Socorro County, as well as the continuing experience as the county manager benefiting the town of Peralta,” he said.

Chavez ran unopposed and won the mayorship with 426 votes in the most recent election in November 2025. He took over as mayor officially after being sworn in on Dec. 31, 2025.

In a phone interview Monday, he said he had “nervous excitement going on” about taking the lead of Socorro County’s administration while also serving as mayor.

“I’m looking forward to really doing positive and progressive things for both the welfare of the citizens of Socorro County and the town of Peralta,” he said. “So, again, I got that nervous excitement. I can’t wait.”

The Socorro County Commission voted unanimously Tuesday, Jan. 13, to approve Gonzales negotiate a contract with Chavez. The chairman said they could not announce a name until the contract was agreed upon.

On the Socorro County side, Gonzales said the community and the commission want the best person for the manager role and emphasized valuing not just results, but how those results are achieved — highlighting people skills, communication and relationship-building.

“Joe is very personable, family-oriented, energetic and likes to challenge,” he said.

Chavez was scheduled to begin his new position in Socorro on Jan. 20. Gonzales said he is committed to ensuring a smooth transition for the new manager, making himself available by phone or in person as much as needed.

Chavez replaces former county manager Andrew Lotrich, who was terminated by the Socorro County Commission in November 2025. Lotrich took the position in July 2024, serving for a year and four months.

Chavez said while being manager of Socorro County is his full-time job, he has already been working with Peralta Town Clerk Kori Taylor and the town council on how to address town needs as mayor, and will be working on town business in the evenings.

“I believe it’s going to be a win-win situation due to the fact that my experience as an elected official as the mayor of Peralta, it’s really going to assist me with working with the elected officials in Socorro, understanding that their concept and what they want and what they need or what they need,” Chavez said. “And then, hopefully, we can give them what they want.

“I believe being the county manager is going to really also assist me with being the mayor of the town of Peralta, because I’ll have the intimate working knowledge of the departments on the inside. So I think it’s going to just be a great opportunity for both Socorro, Peralta and myself.”

Chavez said he wants the community to know that he is dedicated to acting in the best interest of Socorro County residents, business owners, staff and commissioners.

“My foundation is built on my family, and my pride as serving as a U.S. Marine, and my core strengths are listening and clearly communicating to ensure forward progress,” Chavez said.

He said he feels not being from Socorro County is both a challenge and an asset.

“I think I’ll be able to look at things with fresh eyes. I’m not opinionated on what is going on or not going on there as of yet. So I think that’s a big thing,” he said. “What I’d really like to do when I first get (to Socorro) is (to get to know) all the different types of departments that are there.

“You know, just making sure that things get done in an appropriate and efficient manner. I want to work with just the foundation before I start looking at the big picture. We’ve got to just start from the beginning and kind of grow from there.”