Lucero is currently the chief deputy assessor for Lincoln County and has been a resident of Carrizozo for the past four years. She has also served as an appraiser for the state property tax division.
Lucero said she was surprised when Mayor Dennis Vega contacted her last week asking if she would consider joining the town council.
When asked what she would like to see accomplished as a member of the council, Lucero specified that she doesn’t have an agenda, but “I would like to see Carrizozo move forward.”
“I’d like to see more businesses brought in and the economy going well,” added Lucero, who's working toward a dual master's degree in public administration and criminal justice through New Mexico State University.
Thompson stepped down from his seat on June 24 after a three-month stint. In March, he was appointed to the council by then-Mayor Mike Petty, following the resignation of Trustee Wes Lindsay.
Lindsay was elected to a four-year term in March 2010, defeating incumbent Dennis Dunnum.
In a resignation statement read by Vega during a regular council meeting on Monday, Thompson stated that he felt no reason to remain on the town council in light of the completion of a planning and zoning project, which had been the reason he had accepted the position on the council.
The hope in Carrizozo is that Lucero's appointment brings stability to town hall. Of the five members of the town council, three have been appointed to their seats.
Petty resigned last month during a special council meeting, shortly after which Vega, who at the time was mayor pro tem, was selected as his replacement. Vega then chose Chris Ventura as a replacement trustee.
However, Lucero said she wasn’t sure if she would run for re-election.
“It all depends on how the next nine months go,” she said.