Village of Loving Mayor Pete Estrada resigns

Mike Smith, Carlsbad Current-Argus
·2 min read
A Village of Loving Facebook post states Loving Mayor Pete Estrada resigned Jan. 9, 2023, after serving as mayor for 16 years.
A Village of Loving Facebook post states Loving Mayor Pete Estrada resigned Jan. 9, 2023, after serving as mayor for 16 years.

Editor's note: This is a developing story and will be updated with more information as it becomes available.

Loving Mayor Pete Estrada resigned Monday, according to a resignation letter submitted to Village officials.

Estrada served as Loving’s mayor for 16 years and was a Village Councilor for four years prior to his election to the lead village official.

In his letter, Estrada gave no reason for the resignation.

"It has been a great privilege and honor to serve as the Mayor of Loving. I am proud of the many accomplishments and improvements made during my tenure," Estrada wrote.

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He thanked those who "shared the same vision to make this Village a better place for our families."

Loving Mayor Pro Tem Rick Fuentes will step into the leadership position.

Loving Councilman Jackie Onsurez said he sought input for the New Mexico Municipal League on how the Village should proceed to fill the vacancy.

Onsurez said the four-man council will select someone from among them to fill the mayor's seat. The resulting vacant seat on the council would be filled by nomination and appointment.

The mayor's position, and possibly the appointed seat on the council, would be open for election to qualified candidates in November.

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"We're sorry to see him resign," said Village of Loving Clerk Manuel Garza. "He's been a very good boss to all of us." "He dedicated a lot of time on projects and overseeing jobs."

He said a Village council meeting slated for Jan. 9 was changed to Jan. 17 by Fuentes after Estrada's resignation. Garza said a new mayor could be chosen during the meeting next week.

The Carlsbad Current-Argus attempted to reach Fuentes for comment. He was unavailable at the time.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Village of Loving Mayor Pete Estrada resigns