When Sherry Abraham met Edgewood resident Joseph Campbell for the first time, it was at a council meeting during her first run for office.
“He didn’t seem to have a problem with me,” she said. “He had a law office in town that has since closed.”
So, Abraham was shocked when Campbell's pro se lawsuit was served on her in September 2021, alleging that Abraham had committed fraud by serving as town councilor because she lived outside the Edgewood town limits, which would be a violation of New Mexico state law. Abraham publicly denied the accusation.
“Mr. Campbell is an attorney, so it didn't cost him anything but his time,” she said. “It cost me $5,000 to defend myself.”
The case, filed in New Mexico District Court, was dismissed on Jan. 17. The court found no evidence to support Campbell’s claim that Abraham sold her Edgewood home and moved to Albuquerque in 2019, according to media reports.
“I think it was filed in retaliation for the votes and some of the positions I took while on the council because they were asking for my votes to be reversed and there's legally no way to reverse a vote of a governing body once it's been made,” Abraham told the New Mexico Sun.
The case was meritless from the start, according to Edgewood Town Manager Jerrett Perry.
“Mrs. Abraham’s case was dismissed and there was never any evidence of wrongdoing or policy violation,” he said. “A suit of this kind ascribes more to principles than politics, but the people of Edgewood are very aware of the difference and are ready to move the community forward in a legal, healthy and constructive manner.”
Abraham served on the Town Council for more than nine years, starting in 2012, and on various economic development committees, including RETRO (Revitalize the Route 66), RT66 Arts Alliance, the Edgewood Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development and EVEDA (Estancia Valley Economic Development Association).
“I have always believed that Edgewood is the best community in New Mexico because it's located in the mountains, it's close to Santa Fe, it's close to Albuquerque, it's quiet and it's small,” she said. “I hope that Edgewood can shine with its beacon of goodness rather than be clouded by this kind of behavior.”
This isn’t the first time a local politician has been sued.
In 2020, a quo warranto action was filed against former Mayor John Bassett, which resulted in his removal from office.
“I and another councilor filed a writ of mandamus against the two remaining counselors after the mayor was removed from office,” Abraham said. “The town had a special election and voted to change the form of government from mayor-council to commission manager. That was a huge vote in our community.”
Bassett was among those who accused Abraham of living outside of Edgewood.
“With the new form of commission/manager government, that the people of Edgewood have chosen through a referendum, I believe they have demonstrated the importance of giving power back to the people,” Perry told the New Mexico Sun.