Sunland Park Delays Mayoral Appointment

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (AP) — The troubled New Mexico border town of Sunland Park still doesn't have a mayor.

The city council unanimously decided Friday to postpone the mayoral appointment until May 14 because they need more to review resumes from potential candidates.

The council on April 18 had appointed 24-year-old jewelry store worker Javier Perea to fill the seat that the city's mayor-elect.

But Perea resigned last week after questions were raised about whether the council violated open meetings laws.

Mayor-elect Daniel Salinas was barred from taking the seat after being accused of forcing his opponent from the race with a secretly recorded video of him getting a topless lap dance at his campaign office.

Salinas now faces 33 felony counts that include extortion, bribery and receiving kickbacks from a city contractor.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.