Six have applied for county manager position

After a decade, Valencia County’s top administrative position will see a change.

Valencia County Manager Danny Monette, who was hired in October 2014, will be leaving the position at the end of the year. Monette, who lives in Socorro County, was elected as the District 4 Socorro County commissioner in November, a position he held when he was hired as Valencia County manager.

As of Monday, there were six applicants vying for the job — Jhonathan Aragon, Joseph Chavez, Samuel Demel, Julian “Jay” Ruybalid, Jeremias Silva and John Waters.

At the Nov. 13 Valencia County Commission meeting, human resources director Orlando Montoya told the commissioners the job posting would close on Thursday, Dec. 12, and interviews were planned for Tuesday, Dec. 17.

Aragon, of Bosque Farms, was hired as the Valencia County deputy manager in March, prior to which he was a county commissioner for District 5 for 11 years. He worked for Village Veterinary Hospital from 2006 until 2024, starting as a vet tech and leaving as the hospital manager. He has an associate degree in general science, and his resume indicates he expects to complete a bachelor of business administration in December 2025.

Chavez, of Peralta, was the warden and detention center administrator for the Valencia County Adult Detention Center from February 2010 to December 2019. After he retired from the county, he became a contract employee to fill in as the county manager’s designee to hear and adjudicate staff misconduct. Prior to that, he was an administrative law judge/grievance coordinator for the New Mexico Department of Corrections from December 1990 to January 2010.

Chavez served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1986 to 1990, and has taken basic courses at Central New Mexico Community College.

Demel, of Purcell, Okla., was the city manager for the city of Purcell from January to November of this year. Prior to that, he was the city administrator in Kiowa, Kan., from November 2020 to December 2023. He was also the account manager for the Kansas Corporation Commission, the agency in charge of the states abandoned oil and gas well program.

He has a master’s degree in public administration and bachelor’s in business administration.

Ruybalid, of Los Lunas, is the assistant director of YDI and director of the Family Resource Center. From July 2018 to August 2019, he was the town manager in Dolores, Colo. Prior to that, he served as the city manager for the city of Belen from July 2014 to March 2016, and was the assistant division director for the city of Albuquerque from 1986 to 1998.

He has a masters degree in public administration and a Bachelor of Arts in communications.

Silva, of Peralta, is the grant director for Valencia County, a position he’s held since April 2019. He was one of three finalists considered for the deputy manager position earlier this year. From August 2014 to April 2019, he worked for the New Mexico Department of Transportation doing inspection and contract compliance for road and bridge projects in District 3. Prior to that, he worked as a traffic control supervisor for various statewide construction projects and trained incoming employees for Highway Supply from July 2010 to August 2014.

Silva has a high school diploma from Los Lunas High School.

Waters, of Carlsbad, was the executive director of the Carlsbad Department of Development from April 2008 to February 2024. Prior to that, he was the city administrator/city manager for the city of Ruidoso Downs from September 2001 to April 2008, and from May 1994 to August 2001, was the environmental officer/deputy director of public works for the city of Carlsbad.

He has a masters degree in biology/environmental management and bachelors degrees in biology and anthropology.

The county manager acts as the liaison and makes recommendations to the board of county commissioners, represents the county in local, regional, state and federal activities of concern to the county, as per the job description, as well as develops and submits the annual budget.

The position also entails preparing supporting justification and presentation to the commission; advises the commission on the financial state and needs of the county; plans, organizes and directs programs and services; evaluates results and recommends policies, procedures and actions to achieve county goals; provides guidance on all matters related to programs, personnel management, budgeting and legal responsibilities.

According to the job listing, the minimum education and experience required by candidates is a bachelor’s degree, although a master’s is preferred, in public administration, business administration, political science or a related field, and a minimum of three years experience — with a preference for five years — as a county or assistant county manager, city or assistant city manager or chief executive officer, with similar experience in the private sector to be considered.

Other qualifications include experience in intergovernmental relations, including communications with federal, state and local governments and their agencies, experience with public meetings and hearings, the New Mexico Open Meetings Act, budgets and the budget preparation process.

The salary range for the position is $118,000 to $145,000 annually, depending on qualifications. The full job listing can be found on the Valencia County website — co.valencia.nm.us.