“City Manager Resignation: Claims of Disinformation by Alamogordo Leadership”
AlamogordoTownNews.org continues to investigate the resignation of Alamogordo City Manager Rick Holden. Recent developments indicate that city leadership may be engaged in a disinformation campaign to cover up the true circumstances of his departure and potentially avoid litigation, according to several city staff members.
Disinformation has become a significant threat to democracy in the U.S., say experts in technology, research, and political science. Defined as the manipulation of public opinion through half-truths and irrational arguments to achieve political goals, this tactic is increasingly evident at national levels and has now seemingly infiltrated local politics in Alamogordo.
During the most recent city commission meeting, many residents witnessed firsthand what they believe to be the dissemination of disinformation by Mayor Susan Payne and an “official statement” read by the acting city manager. The statement was allegedly prepared by outgoing City Manager Rick Holden and, along with remarks from Mayor Payne, appeared to target the reporting done by 2nd Life Media AlamogordoTownNews.org. Their statements aimed to discredit the media outlet’s coverage of Holden’s abrupt resignation.
Holden’s statement, read aloud at the meeting, asserted that his decision to resign was not due to any conflict with the mayor or any commissioner. He claimed that the city commission had been supportive during his tenure and that they collaborated effectively “for the greater good of our city.” Holden described the challenges of city management, stating it is often “a grueling and ongoing attempt at chasing one’s tail,” due to the influence of external factors, internal staffing issues, and expectations from governmental bodies.
However, internal city documents appear to tell a different story.
In the commission meeting, Mayor Payne gave a lengthy speech that some perceived as “political warfare,” employing rhetoric to shape public opinion and potentially obscure the truth. This tactic is designed to mislead the public and create a false narrative around Rick Holden’s resignation. Such efforts by political leaders to manipulate public perception not only erode trust in the media but also amplify division and fear.
AlamogordoTownNews.org initially reported that Holden’s resignation resulted from an email exchange between a business leader, a constituent, and a city commissioner that escalated into a contentious situation. Early reports implicated Commissioner Rardin and another commissioner, although it now appears that this detail may have been inaccurate. Nevertheless, newly obtained documentation supports the claim that a confrontation involving Holden, a business leader, and a commissioner led to Holden’s resignation.
The catalyst for this heated meeting was reportedly a dispute over water billing. There are questions about why a particular water customer is allowed to water daily without facing consequences, in apparent violation of the city’s watering schedule ordinance. This inconsistency has fueled concerns about favoritism and accountability within city governance.
The discrepancies between the internal documents obtained by AlamogordoTownNews.org and the statements made at the commission meeting indicate that city leadership and the mayor may have presented an inaccurate narrative to the public. Additionally, sources suggest that Holden’s immediate resignation, effective October 18th, might be an effort to avoid litigation by the involved business leader over a separate escalating development issue.
AlamogordoTownNews.org has submitted multiple Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) requests to various agencies to gather more information about this incident and the misleading statements made by city leadership regarding Holden’s resignation. Some have called for the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office to investigate the circumstances surrounding Holden’s departure, the city’s potentially deceptive response, and the business relationship that triggered the events leading to his resignation.
This story is still unfolding, and AlamogordoTownNews.org is committed to pursuing the truth to provide transparency and accountability to the citizens of Alamogordo.
