Rick Holden named new Alamogordo city manager
Alamogordo is getting a new city manager.
The position will be filled by Rick Holden, who begins his first day on Nov. 27.
Holden, who moved from the Dallas/Fort Worth area to Alamogordo, had served as the city manager in Alvarado, Texas between 2018 and 2020 before retiring. Holden was city manager in Cleburne, Texas, before that from 2011 to 2015. Both cities were high growth areas, he said.
"I think even though we have different states, the cities (Alamogordo and Cleburne) are very similar. Cleburne and Alvarado, like Alamogordo, are in very high growth areas in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex," Holden said. "A lot of my time was spent with developers and looking at housing starts, planning properties, extending utilities to various subdivisions."
Holden said a lot of his time in both cities were spent on economic development by attracting new businesses and industries to supplement the tax base and provide employment opportunities.
"Both Cleburne and Alamogordo are very fast paced and very similar in the sense that all the departments and operations are similar, the only thing I have never managed is a zoo but that will be amazing to cover," Holden said.
More: 'Many-Hands' Alamogordo petitions for its first community garden
"I think a lot of the problems that cities face is with the economy. The hardest part is trying to match the money, the revenue, that you bring in through all of your resources with the level of services that you provide," Holden said. "I think that's probably the greatest challenge, is trying to determine what level of services the community demands and expects versus what level of services you can physically afford with your income stream."
Holden said he was able to maintain strong strategic service levels while also keeping costs down and not having to burden citizens with any additional fees to generate revenue. He said he did a good job at ensuring the municipalities he managed did not overspend the approved budgets.
Holden replaces Brian Cesar who retired on May 11, 2023, and Stephanie Hernandez who was named interim city manager.
"I am excited to have Mr. Holden join the City of Alamogordo. I believe he has a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience that will help continue to move Alamogordo forward," Hernandez said. "I think we are going to make a fantastic team."
More: City Manager Brian Cesar retires. Stephanie Hernandez named acting city manager
Hernandez did not apply for the position.
"I did not apply because I am halfway through my Ph.D. program," Hernandez said. "I just was very upfront and told the commission that I really wanted to finish, it's really important to me."
Hernandez said Holden will start on Nov. 27 to give him enough time to move from Texas and get a little familiar with Alamogordo and New Mexico.
Holden said he is eager to begin in Alamogordo and while he prepares for the move he wanted to let residents know that he will always maintain an optimistic view and aspires to hear everyone's opinion.
"Hey, I am going to be there (in Alamogordo), I'll have an open ear and I want everyone to know that I intend to listen more than I intend to talk," Holden said. "I want to encourage people to contact me, to see me and come down to city hall and see me. I want to talk to people, I want to go to club meetings and anywhere I can hear residents' opinions and voices."
Juan Corral can be reached at JCorral@gannett.com or on Twitter at @Juan36Corr.
This article originally appeared on Alamogordo Daily News: Rick Holden named Alamogordo city manager
