Langenegger says Tucumcari poised to prosper

link New Tucumcari City Manager Jared Langenegger.

QCS Managing Editor

Jared Langenegger, who becomes Tucumcari’s city manager on Tuesday, believes the timing of his taking the city’s helm for day-to-day operations is fortunate.

“We’re at a point in Tucumcari where we can do great things,” he said. “We have a great city commission and we can get things moving forward. There are several reasons we should have more going on.”

The city is ripe for new development, he said. It has a great location, a strong water supply and some of its own properties are available to help promote employers who can bring more jobs to town, he said.

Speaking for himself, he said, he believes that the city’s greatest need today is more employers—more economic development.

Becoming a city manager after a long career in management for the New Mexico State Parks Department may seem to be a stretch, but Langenegger said the job has prepared him well for the rigors of city management.

“Each state park is its own community,” he said, since each has its own road system, water system and other services.

He has been managing northeastern New Mexico’s state parks for eight years, including Eagle Nest, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Angel Fire, the parks at Ute and Conchas lakes, Santa Rosa Lake, Storrie Lake, Morphy Lake, Clayton Lake, Cimmaron, and Sugarite Canyon.

He has also managed budgets, personnel, and public resources, which, he said, is experience that will serve him well as Tucumcari’s city manager.

Before he took on the Northeastern Region, Langenegger managed Santa Rosa Lake State Park and once served as assistant chief of fisheries in the state’s game and fish department.

The city has some problems, he said, including its many abandoned buildings and issues involved with the city’s high poverty rate, which prompted him, he said, to organize the “Blessings in a Backpack” program that helps assure Tucumcari school children wholesome meals when they are not in school.

“I will work toward alleviating these problems and making the city more attractive,” he said.

In early going, he said, he will take a “conservative approach” while he learns how things work in the city and gets to know the city commission.

Langenegger was hired in a unanimous vote of the city commission on Oct. 9.

Mayor Pro Tem Ruth Ann Litchfield said she is “very excited” to have Langenegger in the city manager’s job.

“There are a lot of positive things,” she said. “He wants to move the city forward, and I think he will work well with the city commission and city employees.”

Langenegger, she said, is a young man who is very enthusiastic.

“He has grant writing experience and knows how to work with the state,” she said.

Commissioner John Mihm also expressed enthusiasm for Langenegger’s hiring.

“He will be a tremendous asset to our community,” Mihm said, with his experience in organizing, budgeting and human resources.

Commissioner Amy Gutierrez also expressed enthusiasm over Langenegger’s hiring.

“He brings a different outlook,” she said. “He has no agenda. He has a fresh mind and fresh ideas and thinking. He’s motivated and I think good things will come.”

Commissioner Rick Haymaker said he was impressed with Langenegger’s interview and his educational credentials. He was also impressed with Langenegger’s founding of Blessings in a Backpack.

“All the candidates were strong,” Haymaker said. “We have been given quite a blessing.”

Mayor Robert Lumpkin said, “I will do all in my power to work with the new city manager and make this choice a success.”

Langenegger’s salary will be announced at Thursday’s City Commission meeting, according to Mercedes Rudisill, personnel manager. The salary was not yet determined on Tuesday, she said.