Crowd stalls choosing Sunland mayor

KRQE TV

Updated: Apr 13, 2012 6:09 PM

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (KRQE) — The drama continues in Sunland Park where the lap-dance extortion case that sank the mayor-elect has evolved into a fight over who should now lead the border city.

City councilors held a closed-door meeting Thursday night to declare the mayor's seat vacant after the controversial election of Daniel Salinas, a former councilor, who currently is sitting in jail.

So many people showed up, councilors were forced to come out and reschedule the meeting for Wednesday at Riverside Elementary School.

The meeting was needed after voters chose Salinas, 28, over two other mayoral candidates. During the election, reports surfaced that Salinas tried to use a secret recording of his main opponent, Gerardo Hernandez, getting a lap dance from a stripper to force Hernandez from the race.

Salinas was arrested, charged with extortion and released on bond.  He then won the election, but the judge in his criminal case ordered him to stay away from city hall and city officials, which kept him from being sworn into office .

Since then Salinas has been arrested again on corruption charges related to contract kickbacks and padded expense reports.

Salinas has pleaded not guilty to 18 charges and is being held on a $250,000 bond in the Do a Ana County Detention Center.

Residents like business owner Robert Ardovino are disappointed in the process. He compared the situation to a circus and said it needs to stop.

Right now, federal, state and local officials are looking into possible voter fraud and inappropriate financial dealings in Sunland Park.

A state audit is also underway to determine if the state should take over financial management of the city on the Mexico border just across the Rio Grande from El Paso, Texas.dule the meeting for Wednesday at Riverside Elementary.

The meeting was needed after the controversial election that voted Daniel Salinas, 28, mayor. During the election, reports surfaced that Salinas tried to force his opponent, Gerardo Hernandez, from the race by blackmailing Hernandez with a secret recording of him getting a lap dance. Since then, Salinas has been arrested two more times.  He's accused of a couple dozen felonies including extortion, illegal kickbacks, and padding expense reports.  Salinas has pleaded not guilty to 18 charges and is being held on a $250,000 bond in the Dona Ana County Detention Center.  

Locals like business owner Robert Ardovino are disappointed in the process.  Ardovino said the situation is like a circus and it needs to stop.

Right now, federal, state and local officials are looking into possible voter fraud and inappropriate financial dealings in Sunland Park. A state audit is also underway to determine if the state should take over financial management of the southern New Mexico city.

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