Ikani Taumoepeau chosen as Las Cruces city manager

Ikani has shown that he cares for the people in the organization and the community.”

Mayor Eric Enriquez

Ikani Taumoepeau, who worked alongside Mayor Eric Enriquez as assistant city manager and has overseen much of the city’s top initiatives, was selected by the Las Cruces City Council as the next city manager.

The city announced in a news release Thursday afternoon it had made a tentative offer to Taumoepeau.

He has been an assistant city manager since 2021 and had experience working with outgoing City Manager Ifo Pili before their time together in Las Cruces. Pili resigned from the job to become city manager of a community near Salt Lake City, Utah.

“City Council chose Ikani for his experience, knowledge, and his ability to work well with the community, organization, and with Mayor and Council,” Enriquez stated in a news release announcing the appointment. “Since he joined us three years ago, Ikani has shown that he cares for the people in the organization and the community. We have seen his leadership displayed during his time as Assistant City Manager and are excited to see his leadership skills grow and flourish as our City Manager.”

Taumoepeau beat out assistant city manager Sonya Delgado and public works director David Sedillo, whom the council selected as finalists for the position this week.

“The decision was not easy, as both finalists Sonya Delgado and David Sedillo are also very strong leaders,” Enriquez said. “It is a testament to the leadership in this organization that we had the difficult task of choosing between so many qualified candidates.”

The news release touted  Taumoepeau’s role in overseeing projects such as the implementation of GO bond parks improvements, RoadRUNNER Transit zero-fare, Visit Las Cruces’ brand campaign and the city’s first airshow at Las Cruces International Airport.

“I am honored to be chosen as Las Cruces City Manager,” Taumoepeau said in the news release. “I have had the privilege to work with City Council, City staff, and the community in the last several years and am proud of the work we have done so far.”

Before arriving in Las Cruces in 2021, Taumoepeau served as city manager in Clayton, Calif., assistant city manager in Santa Paula, Calif., deputy city manager in Morro Bay, Calif. and economic development director in Eagle Mountain, Utah, according to the news release and Taumoepeau’s resume.

Like his predecessor, Taumoepeau is a Brigham Young University graduate. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in history, a minor in Spanish and a master’s in public administration. The news release said he is also bilingual, speaking English and Spanish.

The news release said Taumoepeau’s contract had not yet been signed but suggested that both parties had agreed to it in principle. The contract would be voted on at a council meeting on April 1, the day after Pili’s last official day as city manager.

“I look forward to continuing to implement the vision of City Council and make Las Cruces the community that we all want to live and thrive in. I am lucky to work with talented and dedicated people who are committed to serving the community with cariño,” Taumoepeau said.