Tucumcari Main Street Executive Director David Buchen turned in his resignation to the board at their regular meeting last month.

"I was excited about bringing back some of the past glory to Tucumcari. That's why I took the job," Buchen said. A disagreement over the direction the board was taking in certain matters was why he decided to resign, Buchen said.

Buchen did not provide any other details.

Buchen was the organization's first executive director and was instrumental in getting the project started, said Sharon Quarles, promotion chairman for Main Street.

"He brought in many grants and low-interest loans, and worked hard to get people involved. David had to do it all himself and he got discouraged," Quarles said, because of the lack of teamwork and community involvement in the project.

When not taking care of the daily operations, Buchen was conducting research, attending grant writing seminars or meeting with state and national Main Street officials to promote the project, Quarles said.

The Main Street project was established in late 2006 to redevelop the city's downtown area. To be part of the national program, Tucumcari's Main Street initiative had to be approved by the state's Main Street program.

While the project is still in the start-up phase with more organizational work to do, Tucumcari Main Street's president Nancy English said Buchen's departure would not affect any of the organization's ongoing plans. Main Street will seek out a new executive director and its plans for a summer concert series and the Sixshooter Siding Festival are still ongoing, English said.

He was "excellent at writing grants," English said, but declined to say why Buchen resigned.

The Main Street office at 207 S. Second St. is closed until part-time help is found to handle the daily operations, English said.
The board is in the process of conducting a national search for a new director, English said.

 Buchen was hired 10 months ago after serving for a year and a half as the director of the Small Business Development Center at Mesalands Community College.

Buchen also serves as an advisor for Eastern New Mexico Art Space and assisted that organization's efforts to secure a start-up grant, said Connie Falls, who serves on the ENMAS board and is ENMAS' gallery coordinator.

"David tirelessly and unselfishly works to better the community," Falls said.

Buchen said he will continue working with ENMAS and assist in grant development and writing.