The reins of Doña Ana County government were formally handed over to M. Sue Padilla Tuesday after a unanimous vote by the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners. Padilla – assistant county manager since 2006 – has been appointed interim county manager with a contract that extends to March 31, 2014, or until the return of Doña Ana County Manager Brian D. Haines, who is on indefinite medical leave. She will earn $138,055 annually and receive a monthly cell phone stipend of $100.
Commission Chairwoman Karen G. Perez said the oversight of county business is in good hands.
“We are all concerned about County Manager Haines, and we’ll keep him in our thoughts and prayers,” Perez said. “We know he wants Doña Ana County to continue moving forward, and that he has every confidence in Ms. Padilla, as does this board.”
District 1 Doña Ana County Commissioner Billy G. Garrett expressed gratitude to Padilla for her willingness to step up to the position.
“I think it’s great we have leadership of her quality and management skills,” Garrett said. “She brings a lot to the table, and I appreciate it all very much.”
Haines notified the commissioners and management team on Friday, Sept. 7, that a medical condition prevents him from coming to work for an indefinite period. Federal privacy laws prevent county staff from commenting about his medical condition.