Taylor was chosen from a field of four finalists for the position Monday following an executive session at a special county commission meeting.
If negotiations are successful, Taylor will replace Tom Stewart, who in July said that he would step down before the end of the year. He has been the county’s chief administrator since October 1998.
County officials say they hope to have a contract agreement by Oct. 18.
Taylor currently works as an association specialist for the New Mexico Association of Counties. A biography on the NMAC website says that she is originally from Capitan. She has been with the NMAC since July 2010.
She previously worked with the State Bar of New Mexico, assisting the judicial districts in developing and administering Supreme Court mandated programs. Prior to that, she spent 36 years with Qwest as the director of regulatory affairs.
Taylor has an MBA from the Anderson School of Management at the University of New Mexico and a bachelor’s degree from New Mexico State University.
The other finalists for county manager were Kelly Kuenstler of Las Cruces, director of the Administrative Office of the District Attorneys; Bobbye Rose of San Jon, former city manager of Tucumcari; and John R. Sutherland Jr. of Deming, former Luna County manager.