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Rio Rancho councilors ask Jackson to resign
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Two Rio Rancho city councilors have an ultimatum for Mayor Kevin Jackson: Resign July 3 or answer questions about your spending under oath.
Councilors Delma Petrullo and Howard Balmer said they drafted a letter of resignation for Jackson to sign after the city finished its investigation into questionable purchases made with Jackson's city credit card.
The investigation, completed on June 28, concluded Jackson owes the city $5,307 for purchases ranging from an $11.68 lunch at Wendy's in July 2006 to $1,600 worth of tickets to a Willie Nelson concert in February.
The city revoked Jackson's city-issued credit card May 17 when questions first arose about his spending. The council censured him, passed a vote of no-confidence and suspended his travel budget June 13.
Jackson has been mostly absent from City Hall since the controversy erupted and has declined to comment directly on the matter.
Jackson's lawyers have said the purchases were not improper. In a May 24 letter to the City Council, Jackson maintained he did not authorize many of the questioned charges.
Petrullo said she hopes Jackson steps down on July 3.
"This is taking a lot of time from the city that it really shouldn't," she said. "It saddens and angers me."
If Jackson does not resign, councilors will draft a resolution to subpoena Jackson to appear at a July 20 public meeting, where he would answer questions under oath from councilors, city employees and the public, Petrullo said.
Such a subpoena motion would likely pass the six-member council, according to a poll of councilors this morning.
Councilor Mike Williams said he supports the ultimatum. Councilor Larry Naranjo said if he had to decide today, he would vote to subpoena Jackson, but it's too soon to decide.
Councilor Marilyn Salzman said she did not know enough about the letter to comment on it, but said she would like Jackson to resign.
Councilor Patty Thomas could not be reached for comment.
"He still has a week to completely turn things around," Naranjo said. "I hope that he does."
Failure to respond to a city subpoena is a petty misdemeanor, according to the city charter.
Jackson and his lawyer, B.J. Crow, could not be reached for comment this morning.
The letter of resignation is not public record unless Jackson signs it, Petrullo said. A copy could not be obtained by The Tribune.
An attached letter demands Jackson pay back $5,300, mostly for tickets at the Santa Ana Star Center.
Petrullo said Jackson should have opened up long ago. If he doesn't resign now, a subpoena is the only option, she said.
She said she hasn't spoken with Jackson in at least five weeks.
"We used to work together all the time," she said. "We had a very friendly, excellent relationship."
Balmer said Jackson has rendered himself incapable of governing and that there is little he can do to save himself.
"I don't like to close the door on anything, but I don't think there's anything he can say at this point," Balmer said.
Jackson also faces questions about spending as the head of New Mexico Family Council-Best Choice, a nonprofit group he founded. Federal investigators are looking into allegations that federal grant money was misused. Jackson was fired as head of the group May 15.
