Doña Ana County has lost its manager, Scott Andrews, after county commissioners decided to terminate his contract. The decision comes after a state audit exposed deep-seated problems within the county, including issues with transparency and the handling of public records.

Background

Andrews had been under scrutiny for his handling of several issues, including the approval of Project Jupiter, a controversial project that was rushed through the commission without proper review. He also faced criticism for his handling of a lawsuit against the county sheriff, which was approved without a commission vote.

The state audit found that the county had not always followed the Inspection of Public Records law, and that employees felt they could be retaliated against for speaking out. The audit also found that the county had trespassed and banned a citizen without due process, which could result in a lawsuit.

The county commissioners have stated that they are working to repair the issues and impose more standard operating procedures. They will move slowly on finding a permanent replacement for Andrews, partly due to the upcoming election in November.

Original reporting: Las Cruces Sun News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.