Clovis commission fills District 3 seat

Clovis city commissioners on Thursday named Debbie Zamora to fill the empty seat in District 3.

Zamora, Douglas Pettigrew and Christopher Davis all applied to fill the spot after Commissioner David Bryant resigned last month.

Bryant submitted his resignation on Aug. 23, after he had stopped attending city commission meetings in June, when Mayor Mike Morris accused him of lying about attending a taxpayer-funded training session in Santa Fe.

"I do see the need to serve," Zamora told the commission. "Especially after my husband being the model that he is, hanging out with him, I've seen a lot and learned a lot."

Zamora is married to state Rep. Martin Zamora, R-Clovis.

Debbie Zamora said she cares about the youth and emphasized the importance of having activities available to keep them busy.

Commissioner Megan Palla, who is chairperson for the Parks, Recreation and Beautification Committee, asked what youth programs she had in mind.

"My first vision is to have a rec center that would have more to do than just, you know, go play basketball," Zamora said regarding the Roy Walker Recreation Center.

"I don't disagree," Palla responded.

Zamora received the vote from five of the six commissioners who voted; the one other vote going to Pettigrew.

The seat will be up for election in March as Bryant's term had two more years.

Commissioner George Jones encouraged all of the applicants to seek the position, assuring them he had been in their shoes twice by not getting appointed to fill a vacant position.

"Please don't give up," Jones said. "You are all great candidates.

All three applicants told the commission they would run for the seat in March.

In other items of business at Thursday's meeting:

• The commission approved the adoption of a resolution that would authorize the demolition of a building located at 216 Cameo St. due to severe fire and storm damage, according to the department of building safety. The building is vacant and the lot is littered with debris. It is unknown when that demolition will begin.

• Bill Priest, the new chief hospital executive of Plains Regional Medical Center, introduced himself to the commission.

The next city commission meeting is scheduled Oct. 5.