Santa Fe city councilor sues SFPS, former superintendent for alleged sexual harassment

A Santa Fe city councilor and former Santa Fe Public Schools assistant principal is suing the school district and its former superintendent, Hilario “Larry” Chavez, over alleged sexual harassment.

Amanda Chavez made the allegations in February, which led to the resignation of Larry Chavez later that month. The two are not related.

Amanda Chavez is seeking unspecified “compensatory damages” and attorneys’ fees, according to the lawsuit filed in 1st Judicial District Court in Santa Fe on Monday.

Amanda Chavez’s attorneys declined to make her available for an interview or comment on her behalf Wednesday.

The suit alleges that “the sexual harassment of Ms. Chavez by Superintendent Chavez began in the spring of 2021, when she first met Superintendent Chavez” and that “Ms. Chavez repeatedly declined all of the multiple sexual advances by Superintendent Chavez as well as his efforts to establish a personal, romantic relationship within their workplace.”

Another allegation made was that the first time they met, Larry Chavez told Amanda Chavez that she shared his wife’s name, which was “triggering to him” because his wife was a “nightmare.” It also states that after Amanda Chavez rejected advances from Larry Chavez, “she began to notice that all her paths for advancement within SFPS were being gradually shut off.”

Amanda Chavez resigned from her job at SFPS on Feb. 14.

“SFPS has not been served with a complaint by Ms. Chavez to this date and therefore cannot comment,” school district spokesperson Tara Melton said Wednesday.

Larry Chavez himself is suing the school district and school board, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican, over the way they handled the allegations against him — claiming they violated state law.

Larry Chavez did not respond to a request for comment and Tom Clark, the Santa Fe-based attorney representing him, could not be reached for comment.

SFPS hired a new superintendent in May to succeed Larry Chavez, who had headed the district since 2020.