Brumfield to stay on water authority

More than three years ago, David Lansford defeated Gayla Brumfield in the Clovis mayoral election to win back the position he previously held for three years.

In a much smaller vote Thursday, Lansford decided to keep Brumfield on the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority when the Clovis city commission deadlocked 4-4 on her reappointment.

His decision was made following a 30-minute pitch from Brumfield and her supporters, and a 40-minute recess called by Lansford when he visibly struggled with the vote to keep or oust Brumfield and said it was “certainly not a vote I enjoy.”

Lansford, who chaired the former Eastern New Mexico Rural Water Authority, was unanimously approved for the city’s other open spot on the seven-member authority. The appointments are effective for a two-year term that begins July 1.

The ENMWUA is responsible for the construction and eventual operation of the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System. Locally known as the Ute Water Project, the effort would pump reserved water from the Ute Reservoir in Quay County to entities in Curry and Roosevelt counties.

The authority body includes three members from the city of Clovis, two from the city of Portales, one from Curry County and one rotating member to represent the communities of Elida, Grady, Melrose and Texico.

The city is currently represented by Brumfield and Mayor Pro Tem Juan Garza — whose current terms expire at the end of June — and Commissioner Chris Bryant, whose current term runs through June 2016.

Garza declined to serve a second term, leaving the two positions open for Brumfield, Lansford and Commissioner Sandra Taylor-Sawyer, who all expressed interest.

Brumfield, who took over as chair in July of 2008, said she came aboard an authority where there was dissension between Portales and Clovis for a project that had only state and local funding and no federal authorization. She noted a project that has since gained federal authorization, more than $50 million in funding and support from the Bureau of Reclamation.

She and supporters submitted a dozen letters, ranging from citizens to city officials to members of Congress, noting Brumfield’s ability to move the project forward and build consensus.

“Gayla has led us flawlessly,” Elida Mayor Durward Dixon said. “She has the support of the other communities.”

The vote to retain Brumfield, however, still deadlocked, with Taylor-Sawyer, Garza, Randy Crowder and Gary Elliott voting no. Voting for Brumfield were Tom Martin, Bobby Sandoval, Bryant and Fidel Madrid.

While the two would not give specifics on their conversation, Lansford said it was “no doubt” a good conversation and that the authority had two members who would work towards the completion of the project.

“I hope to be able to make a contribution,” Lansford said.

Brumfield agreed with Lansford during the meeting that the area needs to take a balanced approach that includes conservation programs and the city’s effluent reuse pipeline, but also said the authority’s focus was the pipeline project.

“We felt we could come together on the project,” Brumfield said. “I think Mayor Lansford’s an asset to the authority ... he was the one who got me interested in it. I think we’re going to make the best team.”