Rio Arriba County Jail Administrator Bidal Candelaria will retire June 30, he has confirmed.
Candelaria took over management of the jail in the spring of 2006 when former administrator Anthony Valdez retired, inheriting a jail that faced skyrocketing prescription drug costs. Candelaria ordered jail staff to investigate psychiatric drug prescriptions in November 2007.
Candelaria has worked at the jail for 27 years, he said in April. He would not comment on his retirement Monday, saying he was upset by a recent editorial about him in the SUN.
The County announced the vacancy May 14 and stopped accepting applications Wednesday (5/20). Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or a related field plus five years of experience in a detention or correctional facility, according to the County vacancy notice. The position currently pays an annual salary of $68,585.