BELEN, N.M. (AP) - A former central New Mexico city manager has filed a lawsuit over allegations the mayor misused public money.
KRQE-TV reports former Belen city manager Leona Vigil said in a lawsuit this month she was wrongly demoted and eventually fired after raising a red flag on some questionable spending.
According to the lawsuit filed in state district court, Vigil says Mayor Jerah Cordova insisted on moving forward with sidewalk repairs even though city employees told him the work would violate the Americans with Disabilities Act.
She also alleges Cordova wanted to spend public funds on the birthday celebration for the renowned feminist artist, Judy Chicago, despite being told the celebration would violate the state’s anti-donation clause.
Chicago lives in Belen.
Vigil says she was eventually demoted to community services director, then to deputy clerk. In February, she filed a complaint to human resources about severance pay that she never received and she says she was fired two weeks later.
The city said it does not comment on pending litigation.
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