Doña Ana County Commissioner John Vasquez resigned Thursday, effective immediately. Vasquez has faced heavy criticism for comments on social media, one of which generated a formal complaint to the county commission. He also faced allegations of misconduct by New Mexico Democratic Party vice chair, Neomi Martinez-Parra. Details of those allegations were not disclosed.
Vasquez had been asked to resign by leaders of the Democratic party. In his resignation letter, Vasquez said that he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, and is receiving treatment for PTSD through Veterans Administration healthcare.
Vasquez was elected in 2016 and his term runs through 2020. Governor Susana Martinez will choose a new commissioner due to his resignation. The Martinez appointee will serve until the end of 2018.
The District 5 position will be on the ballot in the November election for a term beginning in 2019.
Vasquez represented District 5, which encompasses a portion of northwestern Las Cruces and extends north to the Sierra County line, taking in all or part of the communities of Doña Ana, Radium Springs, Leasburg, Hatch, Salem and Garfield.