Ethics Commission to enforce conduct act against livestock board

The New Mexico State Ethic Commission authorized its attorney staff to enforce the governmental conduct act against certain County Livestock Loss Authority members.

Jeremy D. Farris, executive director of the Ethics Commission addressed commissioners at their Friday meeting.

“The staff seek an authorization to file a civil action and to take any actions fairly implicated therein, including making a demand, negotiating a settlement, mediating efforts to reach a settlement, to enforce the governmental conduct act against certain members of the county, livestock loss authority,” Farris said.

The commission voted unanimously in favor.

During public comment, Caren Cowan announced herself as the secretary and treasurer of the New Mexico federal lands committee.

“I just wanted to comment that the county livestock loss Authority Board is something that’s critical to ranchers who are suffering wolf depredation, and I understand you’ve taken an action. I hope that whatever comes out of this will not harm ranchers as this proceeds,” Cohen said.

On Monday, Farris in an email, said the commission had not filed a civil action yet and he hopes the matter can be resolved without the need for litigation.

“The State Ethics Commission recognizes that the County Livestock Loss Association is a vital local government entity for New Mexico’s cattle growers and rural communities. I am confident that there is a satisfactory resolution that enables the CLLA to make informed decisions regarding compensation to livestock owners for depredations and preventative measures while maintaining compliance with New Mexico’s Governmental Conduct Act, which generally requires public officers to recuse from any official acts that directly affect their financial interest,” Farris wrote.

Audrey McQueen, CLLA director said as of Monday she didn’t know what the Ethics Commission is claiming. She said the matter was discussed in a closed session and they are not privy to what was discussed.

The County Livestock Lost Authority was formed in November 2022 to compensate livestock lost to Mexican wolves, including cattle, horses, goats and sheep. The board is a joint effort between Catron, Sierra, and Socorro counties, with each contributing $100,000 a year to compensate ranchers. Last year they received 1.5 million in funding from the legislature. The CLLA also work with the US Fish and Wildlife Department and New Mexico Agriculture Department to get funding from federal and wildlife advocate groups.