Troubled town cancels mayor meeting

Associated Press

JUAN CARLOS LLORCA,Associated Press

Updated: May 18, 2012 11:08 AM

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (AP) — Councilors in a troubled New Mexico border city have canceled another meeting to appoint a mayor days after the state began taking over some of the city's functions amid a number of scandals.

The Sunland Park City Council had scheduled a special meeting on Friday to vote on a new mayor, their fifth try at naming a new leader.

Former Mayor Pro Tem and former Mayor-elect Daniel Salinas was barred from taking office after being indicted for schemes ranging from trying to force a rival out of the race with a secretly recorded video of him getting a topless lap dance to unfolding allegations of widespread financial abuse.

The state auditor released a report this week accusing officials of using the city's budget as personal slush funds.

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