Rio Rancho ethics panel reviews city code after long gap

Rio Rancho’s ethics rules came back under scrutiny as the city’s panel revisited the code of conduct after a long stretch without meaningful action, a review that could shape how officials handle conflicts of interest, financial ties and recusal going forward.

The four-member Ethics Panel met June 2 at 6:00 p.m. at Rio Rancho City Hall with Chairwoman Patricia Camp, Vice Chairman Nathaniel McKenzie, member Carrie Cook and alternate member Dorothy Onikute-Thompson. City staff walked the panel through the city’s code, which the municipal code says is supposed to be reviewed every three years. No changes were recommended that night, but the discussion reopened questions about how the city defines a violation and when the public should expect real consequences.

That matters because the panel is not just advisory. Under Rio Rancho’s Code of Conduct process, a sworn complaint starts at the City Attorney’s Office, which forwards applicable complaints to the city’s contract Ethics Official. That official investigates and can recommend either an unsubstantiated or substantiated finding. Substantiated cases then move to a public hearing before the Ethics Panel, which decides by majority vote and by a preponderance of the evidence whether a violation occurred. If it does, the panel can impose a civil fine of up to $500 or issue a written finding.

The city’s code says the panel was created to foster transparency and require disclosure of personal interests and recusal when those interests exist. That made the meeting’s discussion of terms such as “anything of value” and financial interest especially important, because those are the gray areas that can determine whether an official must step aside before a decision turns into a complaint. The city also says complaints involving employees are referred to Human Resources for follow-up, which leaves a separate track for workplace issues.

The review carried added weight because the panel has never actually heard a case, despite complaints filed over the years. The Rio Rancho Observer reported that more than a dozen ethics complaints have been filed since 2017, including complaints naming Mayor Paul Wymer, City Manager Matt Geisel and City Attorney Josh Rubin. That history gave residents in attendance a clear reason to press the panel on accountability and visibility, not just paperwork.

Rio Rancho’s ordinance was established by the Governing Body on June 8, 2016, and took effect 10 days later after a voter mandate. Any recommended changes from the panel would still need approval from the Rio Rancho Governing Body, making the June 2 review only the first step in a process that could eventually tighten the rules officials must follow when conflicts arise.