With a new year, the community is seeing some new faces in positions of local leadership. In Hobbs and in Lovington, an important role for each municipality has been filled.

The City of Lovington has named a new chief of police, and the City of Hobbs appointed a new city attorney.

On Tuesday, January 2, the appointment of Valerie S. Chacon to the position of Hobbs City Attorney was announced to the public. Ms. Chacon’s appointment was effective November 26, 2023. A graduate of Texas Tech University and the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Ms. Chacon started her tenure with the City of Hobbs’ legal department in 2018. At that time she served as Assistant City Attorney prosecuting criminal cases. She later became Deputy City Attorney where she litigated civil cases.

Ms. Chacon is fluent in both English and Spanish and is able to litigate in the courtroom in either language. According to a City of Hobbs press release (PDF), during her career Ms. Chacon has practiced in the areas of civil, criminal, employment, municipal, and property law.

Hobbs City Manager Manny Gomez said about Ms. Chacon’s appointment, “As the City of Hobbs Legal Department has grown and progressed, Valerie Chacon has been a contributing team member every step of the way since she joined the organization. I congratulate Mrs. Chacon and her family and offer them support and guidance as they enter this new chapter. It is a great time to welcome growth and expansion in a department that is so integral to the welfare of our community and its residents, as well as its visitors. It is also a pleasure to have someone with roots in our community in this position. Thank you to the City Commission, City of Hobbs organization, and our community members for their support.”

Ms. Chacon, a native of Hobbs, said, “I want to make Hobbs an even better place to live. I am honored to serve as the next City of Hobbs City Attorney. This organization is community-driven and provides outstanding services to the residents, and I am excited to represent Hobbs and be part of that service.”

Joe Clark Named Lovington’s New Police Chief

The last days of 2023 also brought a new police chief to Lovington. At their December 11, 2023 regular meeting, city commissioners named Joe Clark as the city’s new police chief. Clark has been with the Lovington Police Department (LPD) for approximately 20 years. At the time of his appointment as police chief, Clark was LPD’s Sergeant Detective and served in the Criminal Investigations Division.

The City of Lovington has been looking for a new police chief since the city’s former police chief David Miranda assumed the role of Lovington City Manager. The process of selecting a new police chief has taken several months. Six candidates were initially interviewed. The list was narrowed down to three, and in the end Clark was selected.

In his letter of intent Clark told Miranda and city commissioners that his “skills set and experience match well with the city”. He commented that he is an “experienced detective sergeant with demonstrated skills in supervising subordinates, schedule training and building a budget….” Clark also noted that he is a “dependable asset to the team” and “a quick study with a dedication to keep learning and improving on what I know.”

According to Miranda, some details about finalizing salary and the like must still be resolved, delaying the “swearing in” ceremony and making the hiring not yet “official”. More specifics may be announced at the city commission’s regular meeting on January 8.