RELATED STORIES

• Mayor Jackson under gag order
• Rio Rancho mayor vows to pay back city charges
• Questions remain regarding Rio Rancho mayor's spending

More Local Politics

• Red lights, cameras, action: Albuquerque program back on, but so is feud
• New Mexico hopefuls for U.S. Senate tout experience at debate
• Reports: Personal funds help some New Mexico congressional candidates

MOST RECENT TRIB STORIES

• ABQTrib.com to remain available
  08:48 a.m., February 25, 2008
• Congressman is indicted
  08:37 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Series of attacks target Green Zone
  08:36 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Iran is defying U.N., agency says
  08:35 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Waterboarding approval probed
  08:34 a.m., February 23, 2008

TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*

• Ty Murray Invitational thrills fans in Albuquerque
• Is Rome Burning?
• Ominous Skies
• The Road to Invalidation
• Albuquerque company participates in “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

SHARE THIS STORY [?]

While the Rio Rancho City Council was voting to censure Kevin Jackson over his leadership of the city, the mayor was on his way to Taos for a leadership conference, said his attorney, B.J. Crow.

The council unanimously approved a resolution on June 13 to censure Jackson, suspend his travel budget and issue a vote of no confidence.

Jackson's city credit card was suspended May 17.

Councilors said the vote is not meant to convict Jackson but is a necessary step to preserve the city's reputation.

"Whether he's innocent or guilty remains to be seen," said Councilor Patty Thomas. "But his behavior casts a dark cloud over the city."

City officials are investigating about $8,000 worth of charges made on the card, mostly for concert tickets and catered food at the Santa Ana Star Center.

The charges also include $11 for alcohol. Using a city purchasing card for tickets or alcohol is prohibited, according to the city's policy. Jackson signed a form acknowledging that he had read and agreed to the policy.

State Police are investigating Jackson, and the state auditor is deciding whether to conduct a special audit.

Jackson has been largely silent since questions arose about his spending and his credit card was canceled nearly a month ago. In a May 24 letter to the city council, he said he did not authorize many of the charges.

He has not responded to numerous inquiries from The Tribune and other news outlets. Crow has said Jackson was out of town on two occasions during that period. Early on, Crow said he advised Jackson not to talk about the issue.

Rio Rancho council members have also said Jackson has not talked to them.

However, in a written statement last week, Jackson said he didn't know some of the charges had been made on his card. The city needs to make a clear policy for when to reimburse the mayor and other officials for expenses at the events center, he said.

Councilor Larry Naranjo, who said on June 11 he wouldn't know how he was going to vote until the meeting, said he hoped the resolution would encourage Jackson to start talking.

"We have to do something to bring him out to answer these questions," Naranjo said.

Only one person spoke during public comment on the resolution.

Twila Medina told the council she was disappointed in its treatment of Jackson.

"I have total and complete faith in him," she said. "He's done great things for this city."

Councilor Marilyn Salzman said Jackson has the next move. The mayor should come forward and explain the charges, she said.

"I would like to hear what he has to say," she said. "I only have black-and-white figures to go on now."

Meanwhile, Jackson has a court date set for June 19. He filed for a restraining order June 4 against Tony Oliva.

Oliva, a former friend of Jackson's, replaced Jackson as the director of the nonprofit New Mexico Family Council - Best Choice after Jackson was fired.

The court granted a temporary restraining order until the court date.

Oliva, who said he lived with Jackson for several months while his own house was being built, filed a counterpetition on June 15 accusing Jackson of lying to the court and trying to disrupt his professional life.

Crow said Jackson might release a statement today. He declined to comment on the resolution or the restraining order.