LOS ALAMOS, N.M. — Members of a New Mexico Credit Union have turned to Gov. Bill Richardson's office for assistance in their ongoing fight with Del Norte Credit Union's board. In addition, the credit union's former auditors have sued the CU seeking payment for services rendered to the supervisory committee. Neither the board nor the credit union returned calls at press time seeking comment on the controversy.

The controversy began in late February this year when the $315 million Del Norte Credit Union Board of Directors changed the credit union's bylaws to allow the expulsion of both the former supervisory committee chairman Joe Gutierrez and his wife, Bertha, from the credit union. It intensified when the board made another bylaw change, transforming the supervisory committee from an elected committee to an appointed one–even though the balloting for an elected supervisory committee had already begun.

Charles Monta??o, one of the two incumbent members of the supervisory committee who was running to retain his seat, called the supervisory committee change little more than a blatant attempt to disenfranchise members.