An interview panel that will choose the next county manager for Sandoval County has been established.

David Bency, Vice-Chairman of the Sandoval County Commission; Orlando Lucero, Sandoval County Commissioner; Debbie Hays, county manager for Sandoval County; Rosalie Chavez, attorney with the New Mexico Legal Aid (Santa Ana Office) and a member of San Felipe Pueblo; Jose Sandia, Human Resources Director for the Five Sandoval Indian Pueblos, Inc., 24 years’ experience in human resources and a member of Jemez Pueblo; Daniel Trujillo, past president of Hispanic Caucus of the National School Board Association, Board of Trustees of the San Antonio de las Huertas Land Grant member and a resident of Placitas; James Jimenez, city manager for Rio Rancho and Julian Garza, a prominent area businessman and owner of several McDonald’s restaurants throughout the county are on the panel.

The commissioners, on Thursday, whittled the list of county manager candidates from 50 to six.

John Avila, the former city manager for Las Vegas; Stephen Jerge, town manager for Bernalillo; Michael Miller, former CEO of Farmington; William Tallman, former assistant deputy manager for Santa Fe; Philip Rios, Sandoval County public works director and; former Bernalillo County Manager Juan Vigil made the cut.