The mayor of Las Vegas, N.M., was charged with six felonies following an investigation after she spent more than $94,000 in public funds on a hardwood flooring installation, the Albuquerque Journal reported.
The contract for the controversial installation was awarded to a company run by the mayor’s alleged boyfriend, according to the report. The city began soliciting bids for a hardwood flooring installation in its City Hall in 2016, but the lowest bid, submitted by Price Furnishings for $6,529, was rejected because a note on the bid stated the company didn’t do hardwood flooring installations. The owner of the company later told investigators this was false—the company does do hardwood flooring. It is not known who wrote the note. The contract was then awarded to Gemini Construction, where the order increased from $9,000 to $19,422.35.
In May 2017, the mayor, Tonita Gurule-Giron, issued an additional $10,000 in city emergency funds to Gemini Construction for a carpet repair after a water leak in the building. The funding for the repair project grew to $94,204 after it was decided to remove the carpeting and install additional hardwood flooring throughout the building. The flooring in one city official’s office was replaced despite not having any damage, according to the report. The emergency funding used never went through a procurement process, according to the Las Vegas Optic.
Investigators from the New Mexico Attorney General’s office raided Gurule-Giron’s home in June 2019 due to suspected price-rigging and favorable treatment toward Gemini Construction Owner Marvin Salazar. Salazar’s home was also raided at the time.
Gurule-Giron is charged with engaging in an official act for personal financial gain, violation of ethical principles of public service, soliciting or receiving an illegal kickback, conspiracy to commit making or permitting a false public voucher, unlawful interest in a public contract, and demanding or receiving a bribe by a public officer or employee, according to the Journal. Salazar is charged with offering or paying an illegal kickback and making or permitting a false public voucher.
