Peralta Mayor Joe Chavez Named Socorro County Manager, Begins Jan. 20

Joseph “Joe” Chavez, who was sworn in as Peralta mayor on Dec. 31, 2025, began his duties as Socorro County manager on Jan. 20 after the Socorro County Commission approved a contract negotiation in mid-January. The appointment follows a unanimous commission vote to authorize Chairman Joe Gonzales to negotiate a contract with Chavez on Jan. 13, setting in motion a transition in county administration.

Gonzales confirmed the hiring via text message and described the commission’s priorities for the manager position as including people skills, communication and relationship-building. “Joe is very personable, family-oriented, energetic and likes to challenge,” Gonzales said. The chairman also said the commission would not announce a name until the contract was agreed upon and that he would remain available by phone or in person to ensure a smooth transition.

Chavez, who ran unopposed and won the Peralta mayorship with 426 votes in November 2025, framed the dual roles as complementary. “I am honored to take on the role of county manager, and I am eager to begin work in the community,” he said. “I look forward to providing clear discussions with the commissioners to ensure a safe and healthy quality of life for the community, as well as upholding a positive and professional image.” Chavez cited a decade as the jail warden for Valencia County and experience managing large budgets, procurements, contracts and staff as part of his qualifications.

Chavez told a reporter he felt “nervous excitement going on” about leading Socorro County’s administration while also serving as Peralta mayor. “I’m looking forward to really doing positive and progressive things for both the welfare of the citizens of Socorro County and the town of Peralta,” he said. He noted that while the county manager job is his full-time position, he has already coordinated with Peralta Town Clerk Kori Taylor and the town council and plans to handle town business in the evenings. “I believe it’s going to be a win-win situation,” Chavez said, describing how his elected-official experience may assist him working with Socorro’s elected leaders and how county knowledge may benefit Peralta.

Chavez replaces Andrew Lotrich, who was terminated by the Socorro County Commission in November 2025 after serving since July 2024. The change in leadership comes as county officials face routine administrative responsibilities including budgeting, procurement and service coordination that directly affect residents across Socorro County and neighboring municipalities such as Peralta.

For Valencia County and Peralta residents, Chavez’s dual roles mean closer coordination between town and county administrations but also raise questions about time allocation and potential conflicts of interest. Residents can expect the Socorro County Commission to outline operational plans and for Chavez to appear at county meetings as the new manager; town council meeting schedules and agendas will indicate how Peralta’s evening governance work is managed. The coming weeks will show how Chavez balances full-time county duties with mayoral responsibilities and how that balance affects services, contracts and local priorities.