The Grant County Board of Commissioners on May 22 ratified leadership changes at the Lower Mimbres Fire Department, approving Lee Roy Holguin as fire chief and Darren Gonzales as assistant chief.

Presenters said Holguin brings 27 years of firefighting experience with the U.S. Forest Service and had served as assistant chief with Lower Mimbres for several years. Gonzales was described as having prior years with the Santa Fe Municipal Fire Department and having relocated to the area; he will fill the assistant chief position vacated by a previous official.

The board approved the appointments by unanimous vote. County staff said the appointments will allow the department to move forward with operations under the new leadership; the county will follow standard hiring and administrative processes related to the change.