Las Vegas mayor resigns, chief faces charge

Nicholas Gilmore, The Santa Fe New Mexican
·1 min read
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Nov. 14—Las Vegas, N.M., Mayor Louie Trujillo submitted his resignation Tuesday, a decision that was set to take effect immediately.

"Effective immediately, I resign my position as Mayor of the City of Las Vegas in consideration of my physical, mental and spiritual well being," Trujillo wrote in a statement to the "people of Las Vegas," according to a report by KOAT-TV.

In recent weeks, Trujillo's appointed police chief, Antonio Salazar, was placed on paid administrative leave after officers were dispatched to a Las Vegas residence in response to a domestic violence call involving Salazar.

The Las Vegas Optic reported Tuesday Salazar and his girlfriend, Melissa J. Naranjo, have been charged with one count each of misdemeanor battery on a household member in the incident.

Trujillo was elected in March 2020, after the 2019 resignation of Tonita Gurule-Giron, who was then indicted on felony corruption charges.

His term was set to end in November 2025. The Optic reported City Councilor David Romero will be acting mayor until a special election takes place to determine a successor.