Adrian Hedden
El Rito Media
achedden@currentargus.com

Eddy County’s newly elected officials were sworn into office during the Eddy County Board of County Commissioners’ first meeting of 2025.

The Jan. 7 swearing-in ceremony followed the results of the Nov. 5 general election in which the county’s voters chose three commissioners, the county sheriff and the country treasurer. New Mexicans also voted for U.S. president, all three of the state’s seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and one of its U.S. Senate seats, along with state offices.

Hayley Klein was sworn in to replace Artesia Mayor Jon Henry as District 2 commissioner and Phillip Troost assumed the District 3 seat vacated by Fred Beard, who did not seek reelection. Henry ran successfully for state representative.

District 5 County Commissioner Sarah Cordova was also sworn in after being reelected in November.

Cordova was chosen as commission chair and the previous chair, District 4 Commissioner Bo Bowen, was named vice chairman. Bowen and District 1 Commissioner Ernie Carlson both have two years to serve on their current terms.

Matthew Hutchinson was sworn in as Eddy County sheriff, succeeding Mark Cage who was ineligible to run for re-election after serving two four-year terms. Patricia Carrasco was sworn in as country treasurer, replacing Laurie Pruitt who decided not to seek reelection.

Klein and Troost ran unopposed in the general election, securing their seats in the June Republican primary. Cordova won the Democratic primary and ran unopposed in November.

Hutchinson and Carrasco won their Republican primaries and ran unopposed in the general election.

The newly elected officials will benefit from pay raises recently approved by the commission. Under the new salary structure, the sheriff’s annual salary will increase from $78,000 to $153,000; the county treasurer’s pay jumps from $75,000 to $129,000; and commissioners’ pay will increase from $26,000 per year to $44,000.

Officials welcomed to Eddy County

Artesia Magistrate Judge Jimmy Foster presided over the ceremonies at the Eddy County Administration Building in Carlsbad.

The meeting was also the first with the new Eddy County Manager, Mike Gallagher. The county manager oversees day-to-day operations of county government.

“I’m looking forward to working with this board – there are some very talented people,” said Gallagher who was appointed in December, resigning his previous job as manager of neighboring Lea County.

Gallagher’s contract with Eddy County includes a $249,500 salary for an indefinite period, he said. His salary in Lea County was $246,000.

Gallagher introduced his family during the public comment period following the swearing-in ceremony.

“We just want to take this opportunity to thank you for welcoming us,” said Gallagher’s wife Rachel Gallagher. “We’re excited to be here.”

Cordova thanked the Gallaghers for coming to Eddy County.

“We hope you enjoy the community very much,” Cordova said. “We’re really excited to have you here.”

Bowen said Gallagher’s experience in Lea County, located east of Eddy County and sharing New Mexico’s portion of the Permian Basin oilfields, makes him well-prepared for his new job as both communities continued to grow rapidly amid increased fossil fuel demand.

“I think he’s going to be a big asset to us as a county,” Bowen said. “I look forward to the upcoming year and what we can do together.”

Other commissioners expressed their excitement to serve the county in the coming years.

“I want to thank the people of Eddy County, specifically those from District 3, for trusting me,” Troost said. “God bless Eddy County.”

Klein, who also serves as executive director of the Artesia Chamber of Commerce, said the county “was awesome” during her onboarding process since being elected.

“I’m glad to get started with the new year,” said holdover Carlson. “It’s a new start with new commissioners. We have always been successful at getting things done, and that will continue.”

Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.