Albuquerque Journal

Keller pick turns down deputy city attorney job

- Martin Salazar UPBEAT COUNTY AUDIT: GIFTS FOR KIDS: Martin Salazar: msalazar@abqjournal.com

Alawyer tapped to be Mayor Tim Keller’s deputy city attorney focusing on immigrant rights protection, refugee affairs, environmen­tal justice and civil rights has opted not to take the job after all.

Oriana Sandoval’s appointmen­t to the newly created position had been announced in a news release by Keller’s transition team in the days before he took over as mayor. But Sandoval ended up not taking the job, telling the Journal she has a young family and she didn’t think she could fully execute the position given the demands on her time.

“It was a fantastic opportunit­y and great position,” she said.

Alicia Manzano, Keller’s interim communicat­ion’s director, said the mayor remains committed to the position that Sandoval was going to fill.

“We are completely supportive of her decision, and we look forward to collaborat­ing with her in the future,” she said.

TAB FOR CEREMONY: The tally is in on expenses for the Dec. 1 swearing-in ceremony for Keller and the five councilors who prevailed in the October and November municipal elections.

The invitation-only gathering — held at the Albuquerqu­e Convention Center and featuring a string quartet and hors d’oeuvres — cost the city a little more than $15,800. About 1,200 people attended the event.

The bulk of the money, $10,354, went to the Convention Center for food and beverages. The Giovanni String Quartet cost $1,929, audiovisua­l equipment was just over $1,500 and the invitation­s cost just over $1,000. The rest of the money went to Kim Jew Photograph­y, a pianist and People’s Flowers.

The results of Bernalillo County’s latest independen­t audit are in, and county officials have a lot to be happy about.

The county has received an “unmodified” audit opinion for its financial statements, meaning the county is providing reliable financial informatio­n to the public. Auditors also gave the county an unmodified opinion on its federal awards programs.

While there were a few findings, the audit noted no material weaknesses, nor were any significan­t deficienci­es found. The audit was done by CliftonLar­sonAllen LLP.

Bernalillo County employees donated gifts for 408 disadvanta­ged Albuquerqu­e Public Schools students recently. The gifts went to ABC Community School affiliate schools.

“Once again, county employees have been extremely generous in giving to those less fortunate in our community,” County Manager Julie Morgas Baca said in a news release. “Every year, more children are in need, and as public servants, we always want to be able to make their holidays a little brighter for those we serve.”

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States