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Commissioners say no to public statement in travel voucher investigation
Vice Chairman of the Otero County Commission Couy Griffin said there were parties, other than himself, responsible for Otero County s alleged violation of its own travel policy and the State s policy on travel reimbursements last year.
Griffin asked his fellow Commissioners on May 13 to approve a public statement which he hoped would explain how the violation - a $3,237.48 reimbursement to Griffin in September 2019 to attend a conference in Washington, D.C. - occurred.
County Commission Chairman Gerald Matherly and Otero County Commissioner Vickie Marquardt declined to discuss or approve such a statement.
Third Judicial District court Judge Manuel Arrieta determined probable cause existed to proceed with a recall lawsuit filed against Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin, initiating procedures to remove Griffin from public office. On the decision, I am obviously very pleased, Sanchez said. The Committee to Recall Couy Griffin is very pleased that we have been found with probable cause, no less for all five of the allegations we presented.
The hearing was only to establish probable cause, in other words to determine if there was evidence of truth to the charges alleged.
Representatives from the Otero County Clerk s Office were at the hearing, including attorney Daniel Ivey-Soto who was appearing on behalf of the County Clerk Office.