Johnson will continue to lead Sandoval County

Wayne Johnson has been the rock for Sandoval County since stepping into the role of county manager in July 2020.

Johnson, a former Bernalillo County commissioner, state auditor and Torrance County manager, will continue to lead the county after he had his contract renewed by the Sandoval County Commission last month.

Johnson’s new contract is for an additional 4 1/2 years with a salary of $180,000.

Johnson has overseen the county through significant challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and rapid growth.

“I was already engaged in it in Torrance County. Sandoval handled it early on a little differently than we handled it in Torrance. It was a challenge to catch up with where Sandoval is,” Johnson said. “I'm a big believer in being there; you get points for showing up. As soon as I could I started bringing back employees to the workplace because we've really been set up from day one behind barriers and so our interfaces with the public could be controlled pretty easily. So we were able to stay in compliance with the health order and have our workspaces safe and work together.”

Working together has been a theme throughout Johnson’s time as Sandoval County manager. From the complexities of leading a county during unprecedented times to the unique demands of leading a county with diverse communities and rapid growth, Johnson has been able to adapt to changing circumstances.

He stressed the significance of strong collaboration with the Sandoval County Commission, other government agencies and understanding the intricacies of constitutional requirements.

“There's a lot going on if you're the county manager. There's a lot going on in county government, and you have to be pretty nimble. You have to have a good foundational understanding of how county governments should operate,” Johnson said. “You have to have a good understanding how the state operates and requirements for the county under the Constitution and statutory requirements, and you have to be up to date on a lot of that. You have to be able to hire very good people as well, and you have to trust them to do their jobs and make sure they do their jobs. I mean, those are basic management principles right there, but government is a little different. Especially in county government, because I have 10 elected officials, five of which I report to directly when you see them a couple of times a month, and they're called commissioners.”

One of Johnson’s notable accomplishments during his tenure has been the improvement of county infrastructure. The recent completion of a new sheriff's office and emergency operations center is a testament to his commitment to enhancing public safety. Johnson has also spearheaded efforts to address the county’s growing animal population with plans for a new animal shelter.

“Wayne Johnson brought a unique perspective to the position of county manager in Sandoval County with his experience as a county commissioner in the state’s largest county, as a county manager in Torrance County, and as having served as New Mexico’s state auditor,” District 1 Commissioner Katherine Bruch said. “I believe that Wayne has helped to professionalize the county through his leadership and hiring practices. The current county commission is a diverse body with some differing views and opinions on many of the issues that we are called upon to address. Manager Johnson has had to navigate through these discussions to ensure that Sandoval County is always fulfilling its duties to the residents. He and I may not always agree on a particular course of action, but he has always been responsive and collaborated with me to resolve issues.

"I very much appreciate his work moving forward with the animal shelter, which is a project that I have been behind since my first year on the commission. It is not an easy task dealing with five commissioners who are strong-willed and have varying positions on many issues, but I believe that Mr. Johnson has performed well in his role as county manager,” she added.

Bruch isn’t the only commissioner Johnson has had a difference of opinion with, but he said that’s just part of the job.

“We have our agreements and we have our disagreements, and the trick to it for any elected official or any government official is to work really hard with them on things that you agree on and also stand up for your county when you disagree on things,” Johnson said. “And that's what I've done as county manager here. That's what I did as an elected official. I tell all my elected officials this because I think it's important that they understand that when you're an elected official on a five-member board, you're going to not agree with one or two of them or maybe all of them from time to time. And I always made this promise to all the other board members at Bernalillo County that when I disagree with you, I will fight with you and I'm going to stand up for what I believe in. But when I agree with you, I'm going to fight just as hard for you as I did against you. And that's the way I approach my job as county manager. My job is to protect the county. My job is to protect the commission. My job is to serve the citizens of Sandoval County, all of them.”

Sandoval County Commission chair Dave Heil also praised Johnson for his work the past four years despite disagreeing with how the county manager handled details on a 911 dispatch contract.

“Wayne has done a good job building a strong management team by hiring key staff for his deputy, director of (planning and zoning), community services and human resources. He’s done an effective job of managing the budget to operate the county. He has worked with human resources to ensure we achieve a competitive compensation plan so that we retain critical talent. He’s done a good job in negotiating contracts with many commercial and other government entities. He has played a key role in working with the NM Administrative Office of the Courts to structure funding for the expansion of district and magistrate courts without increasing Sandoval County property taxes," Heil said. "Wayne has taken a leadership role in working with Bernalillo County and other government and private entities to expand the L.A. Trade port into the metropolitan area, which should have future economic development implications and impact on the completion of PdV. In working with his Deputy, he has positioned Sandoval County as a case study for expansion of Broadband/internet connectivity.

“However, Wayne’s insistence on being right about the structure of the 911 dispatch contract, despite his position not being supported by New Mexico State departments DOIT, DFA and OSA, has undermined the relationship with the city of Rio Rancho and could cost taxpayers millions of dollars to build a second 911 dispatch center to serve less than 30% of the county’s population. The more than three years of discussions with the city on the 911 dispatch issue could have been better spent in building a positive relationship with the city, which is more than 70% of the county’s population, to build a stronger economy in Sandoval County. Hopefully county commissioners will fulfill their stewardship responsibilities to assure taxpayers’ funds are spent wisely and taxes are kept low,” he added.

District 5 commissioner Joshua Jones, who was appointed to the position in 2023, praised Johnson for helping him grow into his role on the commission.

"County Manager Wayne Johnson has been an invaluable asset to me as a newly appointed commissioner. His expertise and dedication have been instrumental in helping me get up to speed on everything from policy to procedure, ensuring that I am well-equipped to serve our community effectively," Jones said. "Additionally, Manager Johnson and his staff have shown remarkable support and compassion, stepping up in my absence during a difficult time for my family. Their professionalism and commitment to Sandoval County are truly commendable, and I am grateful for their unwavering assistance and dedication to our shared mission."

Looking ahead, Johnson emphasized the importance of proactive planning to address potential challenges, particularly in the areas of behavioral health and substance abuse.

“I’m proud of the progress we’ve made in Sandoval County,” Johnson said. “We have a dedicated team of employees who are committed to serving our community. I look forward to continuing our work and building on our successes.”

Johnson also praised his staff of more than 460 full-time employees and said as Sandoval County continues to grow, management will only get better.

“I'm looking forward to the growth. I believe we made tremendous strides in becoming a more professional organization,” Johnson said. “There's always work that can be done, and you can always be better. I think I've got a great staff across the board. We wouldn't be able to do what we do if we didn't have good personnel. Anything that you attribute to this county, it's a positive.”

Johnson's extended contract reflects the county commission’s confidence in his leadership and his ability to guide Sandoval County through future challenges and opportunities.

“Wayne has carried on the transformation of Sandoval County from the previous County Manager Diane Maes. Sandoval County had a reputation for mismanagement and corruption. Once we hired Diane and Wayne, we have been able to turn the organization around. Sandoval County is now known as a professional county government around the state, a model for many counties. There is still much work to do, and I know when Jon Herr, Jordan Juarez and Justin Garcia get elected, they will continue the culture of excellence we have proudly built,” District 2 Commissioner Jay Block said. “Wayne has been great to work with, and he has reached out to our rural areas to help solve many issues those communities and pueblos face. Bottom line, the county is in a much stronger place fiscally and service wise than it was in 2016. Huge thanks to Wayne and Diane making Sandoval County a model for other counties to emulate.”