Fired Carlsbad golf manager Cordova won't be reinstated after appeal, City Council votes

Christopher Cordova’s firing as superintendent of Carlsbad’s city golf course was upheld by the City Council after Cordova appealed his termination from the post earlier this month for allegedly drinking on the job, mismanaging funds and abusing employees.

Cordova will be reinstated as a city employee, after a unanimous council vote on Wednesday, but not as a manager and not as a golf course employee. He may be rehired to a position determined later by city officials.

The council considered his appeal during a six-hour special meeting held at the Janel Whitlock Municipal Annex. The personnel hearing was held open to the public at Cordova’s behest, and several members of the public, including family members of Cordova and his former employees, attended.

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Cordova was hired by the golf course as a caretaker in 2016 and was promoted to superintendent in June 2022, receiving an 18 percent pay raise. Amid accusations from pro shop employees and city officials, Cordova was placed on paid administrative leave in February, and terminated after an April 3 hearing.

Allegations against Cordova included drinking in the pro shop, bullying employees and giving discounts on brand new merchandise to his friends and family, while mismanaging city funds. He was also accused of punching in for eight-hour shifts on at least three days while attending the state legislative session in Santa Fe.

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City officials said Cordova’s management led to an estimate budget deficit of more than $100,000 at the pro shop this fiscal year, a combination of faulty timesheet coding, inventory and other accounting discrepancies. Records showed the city estimated about $25,000 worth of missing inventory. Officials also alleged the misconduct was covered up his father, the city’s former Human Resources Director, Ted Cordova, who resigned in February.

City Attorney Denise Madrid Boyea described accusations that Cordova called an employee a “dumbass” in front of others, got into an altercation with a customer in front of the patron’s three-year-old child on the course, and in December 2022 held a Christmas party unsanctioned by the City where employees and their guests were allowed to self-serve alcohol.

She called several witnesses, including employees of the pro shop and City of Carlsbad finance staff, to testify to Cordova’s alleged behavior.

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“We have documents and witnesses today to substantiate these numerous claims of violations of city policies,” Madrid Boyea said.

An attorney for Cordova, Alysia Cordova – his cousin – disputed the drinking allegations, contending several employees drank on the course after their shift, which was allowed by city policy. She said the Christmas party was approved by Ted Cordova, who she said “talked with the mayor” about it.

“This was a fishing expedition,” she said before city councilors. “What appears to have happened is that this report was created after we demanded this hearing to substantiate claims that they cannot. He was not drunk and acting absurd. You deserve to receive both sides of the story.”

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Alysia Cordova also denied allegations that Cordova got into altercations with employees or patrons at the course, and contended Cordova’s wife, Eddy County Commissioner Sarah Cordova, who she said was present during one of the alleged incidents, was not interviewed during the investigation.

Nor was Chris Cordova’s father Ted Cordova, his direct supervisor, interviewed ahead of Cordova’s termination, Alysia Cordova said, or former Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway, who she said approved the Christmas party. Both men, she said, would refute the allegations.

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She argued Cordova was not provided evidence ahead of the hearing, including financial records and other details of the allegations.

“Everything presented to you was done so in a completely one-side manner,” Alycia Cordova said to the city councilors. “There is a reasonable explanation for everything.”

Misconduct led to thousands of dollars lost at pro shop, city says

Interim City Administrator Wendy Austin said when the new city administration took over this year, following the election of Mayor Rick Lopez in November 2023, the pro shop’s finances were investigated and found “in shambles” and the city was likely to report the violations to its auditor.

Austin said Cordova ordered employees to “force balance” cash drawers by saving surplus cash in a separate envelope and using that money to pay the difference when drawers were short.

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Cordova admitted during the hearing to this practice of using a “slush fund” to balance drawers. He said it was about $13 or $14 in cash.

Austin said he also gave illegal discounts to others, a violation of the State Constitution’s Anti Donation Clause that prohibits governments from providing funds to outside entities. When the inventory was audited, Austin said 5,637 items were missing, about a quarter of the pro shop’s inventory.

She said evidence also showed Cordova used his city credit card to buy a golf cart for his personal use and alcohol for himself and friends, while also giving his friends free access to the course.

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“I’m certain you will hear from the Cordova family and witnesses that he was a good manager of the pro shop. This is not the case,” Austin said. “The pro shop has been grossly mismanaged. Employees were forced to work in an environment where they were bullied by Mr. Cordova and his father Ted Cordova.

“I have never seen such an egregious mismanagement of inventory records.”

Alysia Cordova said the investigation into finances and behavior amounted to an “egregious violation” of Cordova’s constitutional rights. She said throughout the process he was not consulted on the discrepancies or allowed to explain the incidents before demanding the hearing on his ultimate termination.

“Focus on the process, focus on the information you do not have, focus on the level that Christopher Cordova was not allowed to defend himself,” Alysia Cordova said before councilors.

Cordova’s family speaks in his defense in face of allegations

Ahead of the vote, members of Cordova’s family spoke in his defense, arguing the man was wrongfully accused and had managed the facility successfully during his tenure.

That term saw the construction and opening of the Municipal Golf Course’s miniature golf course, hosting multiple tournaments and events since it went into operation in the summer of 2023. The facility also hosted several tournaments on its pro course, and charity evets supporting non-profits in the community.

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Cordova’s uncle Mo Cordova denied ever hearing his nephew call any workers names at the golf course, and testified Ted Cordova would never give preferential treatment to family members.

“It didn’t matter familia or anybody. He did the job by the book,” Mo Cordova said. “It didn’t matter who you are.”

Wife Sarah Cordova disputed allegations her husband had altercations with golf course patrons and said the Christmas party he hosted was “normal.”

Ted Cordova said the city “failed” to provide proper inventory and financial training to golf course employees. He also said he never heard Cordova curse at employees and would have reprimanded him if he had.

“When Chris was in middle school, he wasn’t doing his homework, so I called him into my room, and I swatted him,” Ted Cordova said. “That should answer your question. If he did that (insult employees), I would have gotten on him. We’re all guilty of making mistakes. Not just my son.”

Cordova himself argued he was wrongfully accused, refuting each allegation individually. He said he was “slandered” by the city after he was fired from the job, and denied drinking at the course in a way that would discredit the city. He also denied ever seeing the golf course’s financials ahead of the appeal hearing, and argued that ensuring the course was profitable was not in his job description.

“I understood learning curves. If there was something that needed to be changed, I was all for it,” Cordova said. “If the city wants to take on new projects and processes, understand that a learning curve and mistakes need to be allowed. We can’t just lynch someone because it’s convenient.”

He remained mostly quiet during the proceedings, occasionally looking back to his family members during testimony, and staring straight ahead as the City Council handed down its verdict.

“I feel that I have more giving to my employees than any other person would,” Cordova said. “Unfortunately, my generosity created an animosity and jealousy. My conscience is clear.”

Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Carlsbad golf manager's appeal denied, but may be rehired by city