Bernalillo Co. nepotism issue lingers

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Did they deserve the jobs or was it another case of Bernalillo County workers taking care of their own? KRQE News 13 looked into how two teens landed some sought after summer jobs.

The daughter of the Bernalillo County Fire Chief John Garcia and the daughter of Deputy Fire Chief Frank Barka both got jobs in their dads' offices. They were hired under the mentorship program where they learn job skills.

The county does not advertise the summer jobs, and they're only offered to high school students who make close to minimum wage.

Both girls take instructions either directly or indirectly from their fathers. But the county says it's not nepotism because they're hired and take direction from the Human Resources Office.

News 13 wanted to know how many people the human resources director hired out of more than 100 applications and what the criteria is for hiring. But the HR director wouldn't make time for an interview.

"No, she was not available this afternoon," Liz Hamm, spokesperson for the county, told News 13.

And as for how the two students were placed in their fathers' offices?

"The human resources director is checking on the placement of these two particular individuals," Hamm said.

But the HR director said in a statement, "We try to accommodate any transportation challenges faced by students who do not have their own vehicles."

In the wake of the scandal involving Jamie Dantis--who quit a county drug program overseen by his father who later retired--the county is currently cracking down on nepotism. County Manager Thaddeus Lucero has asked all high-ranking workers for a list of relatives working for them.

The list was due at 5 p.m. Monday, and News 13 has put in a request for a copy.