Changes to county’s 'cooling off' period seem set for heated discussion

Changes to Bernalillo County’s code of conduct being pushed by a commissioner during his waning days on the dais will be voted on Tuesday .

The changes would eliminate a “cooling off period,” which doesn’t allow an elected official to accept a job within the county until a year after they leave office, for some county roles. The measure would not fully eliminate the waiting period for all county jobs. Instead, it would provide a narrow exception for former elected officials who want to come back as an assistant to an elected official.

For example, passing it could allow the incoming county clerk to hire the outgoing county clerk as a deputy clerk. Most of the county’s elected officials, like the sheriff or assessor, have deputies, but county commissioners do not.

The bill’s sponsor, Steven Michael Quezada, is on his way out of office after two terms. However, he has said previously he is not looking to amend the policy for himself. Quezada did not respond to a request for comment Monday.

At least one county commissioner is on the fence about approving the policy.

“I’ve gotten so much information, I’ve had quite a few folks reach out and say they wouldn’t support a change in the cooling off period, and then I’ve gotten a lot of experts sending me reasons why we should and some people have been claiming it’s illegal for us to hold people certain elected (officials) from being able to pick their team,” Commissioner Adriann Barboa told the Journal Monday.

The exception would apply to approximately 10 jobs within the county government, said Commissioner Eric Olivas.

“Nevertheless, it is an exception to that rule, despite the reasoning for that code of conduct in that provision is to prevent any kind of favoritism, political favors or undue influence of elected officials that hold these powerful positions,” Olivas said.

Commission Chair Barbara Baca said she agrees with the existing yearlong cooling off period. Baca previously voted to defer the proposal to eliminate it.

“It doesn’t disallow people from working for government again, but it prevents an outgoing elected official from being hired as a lobbyist, or being hired in a position that has a real conflict,” Baca said.

She believes the proposal should instead be considered by the Code of Conduct Board.