New city boss: 'I see things that need to be done'

Paula Chacon said she loved her business specialist job at the 10th Judicial Circuit in Tucumcari, where she had been employed for more than 20 years.

But when she learned earlier this summer about an opening for city manager at the City of Tucumcari, she applied for it, indicating she was motivated by what she described as a sense of duty.

"I care about Tucumcari; I'm from Tucumcari," Chacon said during an interview in her office in City Hall last week. "I genuinely care about the future of Tucumcari, and I felt like I would be of assistance and helping the city move forward.

"That's the only reason why. I see things that need to be done."

The city commission hired her in mid-August, approving a three-year contract at $84,718.40 a year. She began her duties as city manager on Aug. 23.

At the time of her interview with the Quay County Sun, Chacon had completed six days in her new position. She replaced Mark Martinez, who voluntarily stepped down to go back to his old position as assistant city manager. Before working for the area court system, Chacon was the manager for Quay County in the early 2000s and the manager for Union County.

Chacon admitted her first week in the job was a bit "overwhelming" but holds no second thoughts about her decision.

"There's a lot going on the city," she said. "I just came in and hit the ground running. There are challenges we'll get through."

She was asked about the biggest challenges she faces in her new job.

"That's a good question," she replied. "Come back with that question in a month. Let me get more into it."

She said she acknowledges "the same complaints that everybody has in this community – the streets, issues with parks, wastewater, economic development, what we can do to make revenue increase. The more revenue we have, the more we can offer. There's a lot to think of."

She also mentioned she wanted to see more use of the Tucumcari Convention Center.

"We always had scheduled activities out there," she said. "I'd like to see that again. That brings people into our city, and additional gross receipts."

Chacon said she also wants to see more construction, another source of gross receipts tax revenue.

In her role as city manager, Chacon said she works "for the commission and the residents of the city of Tucumcari."

"I approach it with what's best for the city of Tucumcari," she said. "That would be my goal when I present to the commissioners. It will be displayed with research behind it. But, ultimately, it is their decision."

Chacon said she's received a lot of assistance from city employees, including her predecessor Martinez, who she described as "an asset."

"Everybody has been very helpful and have really stepped up to the plate. I appreciate all that the employees do," she said.

Chacon said she maintains an open-door policy and is "always open for suggestions."

"I'm not one to sit around," she said. "I want to see accomplishments. I want the people to see accomplishments and that we're moving forward. I want them to see that we're working and trying to get things done."