Council hires Jimenez as city manager


By Eric Maddy
The SCORE

Another Jim is in.

The Rio Rancho Governing Body unanimously approved James Jimenez as city manager Wednesday night, returning him to the position he held before beginning work in Gov. Bill Richardson’s administration.

The council voted 6-0 to waive normal procedures and accept Mayor Tom Swisstack’s recommendation to select Jimenez, who served as city manager from 1998-2002 after a stint as the city’s finance director when Swisstack was mayor previously.

Jimenez, a Rio Rancho resident, left city employment in 2002 to serve as director of the state finance authority for four years and as Richardson’s chief of staff before resigning last week.

Jimenez replaces Jim Payne, whose contract was bought out after slightly more than a year of service. Payne had replaced Jim Palenick, who is challenging his firing in district court and is now the city manager in Gastonia, N.C.

Jimenez was also being sought by Sandoval County as county manager to fill the vacancy that will be created at the end of the year when Debbie Hays retires. Several commissioners have said they will probably start a regional search in September in hopes of having Hays’ replacement on board to work with her for a month before taking over.

Jmenez's start date is Oct. 1.

MORE TO COME