New city manager to start

Tucumcari has a new city manager.

Britt Lusk, 38, who was the director of administrative services for Hobbs, was named Tucumcari’s new city manager Thursday on a unanimous city commission vote.

His salary will be $82,500 per year.

Lusk was hired on a “strictly at-will basis,” according to his one-year contract with the city. He began his duties on Monday, according to the contract, which is good through May 14, 2019.

In comments at Thursday’s commission meeting, Lusk said in Tucumcari he sees not a city but “a community.”

Lusk has a master of public administration degree from Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas.

Lusk has worked at his position in Hobbs since 2014, according to his LinkedIn profile. Previously he held positions in Abilene, Texas, including youth and family director for the YMCA and human resources director for New Horizons, a foster care, adoption and counseling center for children.

Lusk and his wife Yvonne have two boys.

Mark Martinez has served as interim city manager since March 15, and with Lusk’s arrival has returned to his position as project manager with the city’s community development department.

Martinez filled in for the job after former City Manager Jared Langenegger left the position on March 14 after announcing his resignation.