CORRUPTION: Court rules Ortiz recall petition can continue

5/22/2014

Updated: 05/21/2014 6:14 PM | Created: 05/21/2014 2:50 PM
By: Elizabeth Reed, KOB.com

The New Mexico Supreme Court unanimously affirmed a lower court's decision in the recall effort of Bernalillo County Treasurer Manny Ortiz.

The ruling allows the recall petition process to continue. If the petition gets 82,000 signatures, Ortiz will face a recall election.

In January, local attorney James Dory went before a judge to ask permission to start a petition to recall Ortiz. The Bernalillo County commissioners have accused Ortiz of mishandling county finances, saying his investments may have cost county taxpayers around $23 million.

Oritz has maintained his innocence. He previously said in court that he paid every bill that came into his office.

This is a breaking news update, stay with KOB.com for further developments.

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