Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
CLOVIS — Mayor Mike Morris on Friday called for the resignation of City Commissioner David Bryant, accusing Bryant of “misuse, if not theft, of public funds.”
Bryant did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The News. His Facebook page said he was “going off the grid today.” Text messages and phone calls also were not returned.
In emails to Bryant obtained by The News, Morris accused the commissioner of being “dishonest” about attending a recent New Mexico Municipal League training.
“I believe you lied to your fellow commissioners and the public as you falsely reported having attended the training,” Morris wrote Bryant in one email. “Your words and actions have been a betrayal of the public’s trust.”
In an email dated June 16, Morris said he was calling on Bryant to “replace the public’s funds and resign from your city commission seat.”
In a followup email, Morris wrote Bryant: “I have given you the opportunity to take the appropriate action in a reasonably quiet manner. If you do not replace the funds and resign your commission seat by the end of the day, I will not have any choice but to press forward with additional action on my end. I won’t sit by and do nothing nor will I look the other way on this.”
Morris said Bryant has not responded directly to him in response to the emails but Bryant acknowledged receiving them through city attorney Jared Morris, who later confirmed communication with Bryant.
Asked whether Bryant could be removed from office any way other than a recall election, he said: “Not that I’m aware of.”
But while the mayor has no authority to force a commissioner to step down, Jared Morris said it’s possible “the executive or legislative or judicial branches could do something.”
Mike Morris wrote in a text message to The News that while Bryant checked into the hotel for the training, “he never actually attended the training.”
Mike Morris said the city was billed $250 for the training session Bryant was scheduled to attend and about $400 for hotel bills. He said Bryant also requested to be reimbursed for mileage to Santa Fe, where the training was held.
In a telephone interview, Mike Morris said he first learned Bryant may not have attended the training from city manager Justin Howalt and assistant city manager Claire Burroughes, who attended a “congruent” meeting at the same time in the same hotel.
Morris said he then reached out to Municipal League officials who told him they did not see Bryant and that he did not pick up the packet of information provided to those who attend the training.
The mayor said he asked Bryant to report on what he learned at the training during the most recent city commission meeting on June 15 and that Bryant gave a report.
“He did not have any details,” Morris said.
The mayor said he then confronted Bryant after the meeting with allegations that Bryant failed to attend the Municipal Officials Leadership Institute training June 5-7. Morris said Bryant told him, “I’m not doing this with you,” and walked away.
Morris said city officials have told him Bryant has since asked to withdraw his request for mileage reimbursement, but the mayor wants the commissioner to resign anyway.
“I think he needs to go,” Mike Morris said.
Bryant was elected to Clovis city commission District 3 on March 1, 2022, defeating opponent Paul Nelson, 71 votes to 50.
Bryant was a longtime city employee as its purchasing agent and risk manager, but he resigned in 2016, alleging the city had created a “hostile working environment.”
Records show the city ultimately paid Bryant $10,000 for an American with Disabilities Act violation. Neither the city nor Bryant have provided details about that settlement because of what Bryant termed a non-disclosure agreement.
“However I will state the following two facts,” Bryant said during his 2022 election campaign. “People do not leave bad jobs; they leave bad leaders.”
Mike Morris said he plans to publicly confront Bryant about the training seminar when the city commission meets again on July 6.