Silver City Mayor Pleased with First Month in Office

New faces in town governance, but mayor says council is working well together

Feb. 4, 2026 at 9:39pm

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Despite a number of new faces in new roles in town governance, Silver City Mayor Simon Wheaton-Smith said he is pleased with how his first month in office has gone. The mayor discussed the first month of his term, noting that while there are challenges with new council members and staff, the group is working well together so far. One of Wheaton-Smith's goals, revitalizing the town's Lodgers' Tax Advisory Board, is also moving forward.

Why it matters

The transition to new leadership in Silver City's government is an important moment for the community, as the mayor and council work to address local issues and priorities. The mayor's positive assessment of the first month suggests a smooth start, but the challenges of new faces and potential future conflicts will be important to monitor.

The details

Mayor Wheaton-Smith said he is pleased with how the first month has gone, despite a number of new faces in town governance. This includes two new council members, Angelina Salaiz and Victor Nañez, as well as new directors in the Community Development and Utilities departments. The mayor noted the town is in the 'forming stage' of group development, where everyone is getting to know each other, but he expects the 'storming stage' to come soon. Wheaton-Smith said he has relied on experienced Councilor Nick Prince for guidance. One of the mayor's goals, revitalizing the town's Lodgers' Tax Advisory Board, is moving forward, with Wheaton-Smith having interviewed three applicants to fill the five-member board.

  • Angelina Salaiz was appointed to an open council position just last month.
  • Victor Nañez was elected to his council seat in November.
  • The Town Council was set to consider a budget amendment on February 4, 2026, but the meeting was canceled after the finance director learned council approval was not necessary.

The players

Simon Wheaton-Smith

The mayor of Silver City, New Mexico, who is pleased with how his first month in office has gone despite some new faces in town governance.

Angelina Salaiz

A new District 1 councilor in Silver City, appointed to an open position just last month.

Victor Nañez

A new District 4 councilor in Silver City, elected to his seat in November.

Nick Prince

The Silver City mayor pro tem, representing District 2, who is the most experienced member of the council.

Lori Ortiz

The Silver City finance director who checked with the state and learned the council's approval for a budget amendment was not necessary, leading to a meeting cancellation.

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What they’re saying

“I think we have a diverse group, which is important. In our retreat that we had, I think everyone worked well together, and I look forward to them doing good things as we move forward.”

— Simon Wheaton-Smith, Mayor of Silver City

“He's done a damn good job.”

— Simon Wheaton-Smith, Mayor of Silver City

What’s next

Wheaton-Smith said he has already interviewed three applicants for the Lodgers' Tax Advisory Board and will present them for appointment at the February 10 Town Council meeting. If the council does not object, the three would form a quorum for the board and it could begin meeting.

The takeaway

The transition to new leadership in Silver City's government appears to be off to a positive start, with the mayor expressing optimism about the new council's ability to work together effectively. However, the challenges of integrating new faces and potential future conflicts will be important to monitor as the group moves forward.