Griffin named Otero County Commission Chairman

ALAMOGORDO – Thursday morning marked the first Otero County Commission meeting of the new year with two new commissioners and a reorganized dais.

Newly elected Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin, R-Dist. 2, was named the new Otero County Commission Chairman.

The first nomination for commission chairperson was from Commissioner Gerald Matherly, R-Dist. 1, nominating Commissioner Couy Griffin who stated his appreciation and seconded the motion. However, 2018 Commission Chairwoman Lori Bies, R-Dist. 3, did not agree.

“The only reason I suggest that I stay here is to let you guys have the opportunity to be a little bit more free to go talk to people, go and do the things that you need to do so you don’t have to have the added burden until you’ve really gotten the full scope of the job,” Bies said.

Griffin responded that although he understands Bies’ reasoning, he thinks that he can handle it.

“I feel like it’s a lot of thought and prayer I feel like it is a responsibility that I would like to take on,” Griffin said.

He added that he sold his business so that he could focus on his duties as a county commissioner.

“I want to be a good steward of the great responsibility that I’ve been given and serving as chair I believe that I would be able to do that,” Griffin said.

Matherly gave his reasoning behind nominating Griffin.

“One of the reasons I was making the nomination is to where you’re still here with us for two years," Matherly said. "Couy and I are going to be her for four years. Get our feet wet and if we have questions, you can help us.”

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Bies responded that she understood Matherly’s reasoning because she said the same thing to former commissioners Janet White and Susan Flores when Bies became commission chairwoman last year.

“I had them with me for another year and I could get my feet wet and make sure that I had everything down before I lost their expertise. So, I completely understand what you’re saying,” Bies said.

When a vote was taken the motion was for Griffin to be commission chairman and Matherly to be commission vice-chairman. Griffin, who was nominated for commission chairman by Matherly, nominated Matherly for vice-chairman.

Matherly and Griffin voted for the motion and Bies voted against.

Later in the meeting, during commission discussion, Griffin had an issue with the commissioner's office spaces.

“I met with Congresswoman (Xochitl Torres) Small a couple days ago here in town. I met with her at an office outside the commission office because I don’t have my office set up yet,” Griffin said. “I know that the office that Janet had was a bigger office and a couple more windows in it and I know that Commissioner Bies kinda liked to have her eye on that as well and I felt like a fairer way to approach that would be to maybe flip a coin or draw lots.”

Bies responded that a conversation had taken place wherein she told Griffin that she would take that office so that she could continue work on the archive that is stored in that office from when it was White's.

“But it’s an office. It’s not an archive,” Griffin answered. “Each one of us are allowed to have an office.”

A frustrated Bies suggested Griffin take the office.

“Why don’t you just take it and I’ll go move my s--- out,” Bies said. “I knew you’d be the first one to get me to cuss up here.”

Griffin said “I guess we don’t have any need to do a draw then. I appreciate that.”