Officials graduate from leadership program

FARMINGTON — Several San Juan County officials are among 26 people in the state who recently graduated from the Local Government Leadership Program.

The local graduates are Jennifer Breakell, attorney for the city of Farmington; Doug Echols, attorney for San Juan County; Sgt. Pat Flores, director of the city of Farmington’s Criminal Justice Training Authority; Daniel Hill, deputy administrator for San Juan County’s Parks and Facilities; Mike Mestas, coordinator of San Juan County’s Office of Emergency Management; and Donica Sharpe, the GIS and planning and zoning director for the city of Bloomfield.

The Local Government Leadership Program is organized through the New Mexico Association of Counties, the New Mexico Municipal League, the New Mexico School Boards Association and Leadership New Mexico, according to a press release from Leadership New Mexico.

The program aims to educate local leaders, such as city and county officials and school board members, about issues facing the state. It also prepares the professionals with knowledge necessary “to undertake their civic responsibility and instill in them a passion for effective and ethical public service,” the release states.

Since 2002, nearly 300 people have participated in the program.