County: Daughters' hiring not nepotism

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - News 13 is finally getting some answers about how two high school students got jobs with their fathers at the Bernalillo County Fire Department.

The daughters of Fire Chief John Garcia and Deputy Chief Frank Barka work in the county's mentorship program. They were two of the three high school students working in the mentorship program at the fire department.

The summer program teaches kids job skills and pays $7.50 an hour. The two girls were part of the 103 students who applied for the mentorship program. The county hired 94 kids for departments throughout the county.

On Tuesday, the day after the initial News 13 report aired , Bernalillo County Human Resources Director Renetta Torres said there are few requirements to qualify for the program.

"The only qualifications we look at for the High School Job Mentorship Program is one, they have to be high school students," Torres said.

Given recent controversy about nepotism within country government, New 13 asked her why these summer hires were different given the girls work in the same building and on the same floor as their fathers.

"The reporting structure as it relates to Chief Garcia and Deputy Chief Barka, it's my understanding is that neither of those two individuals was reporting directly to their father," Torres said.

Torres said her office, not the individual departments, does the recruitment, the hiring and the placement.

But since New 13 brought the two hiring to the county's attention after getting a tip, Torres said, "I really don't see a problem, but again, you've pointed it out, and maybe we look at it differently next year."

In the meantime, County Manager Thaddeus Lucero is compiling a list from the county supervisors as to what relatives may be working in the different departments. News 13 has requested a copy of the list and expects to have it by the end of the week.