PRIMARY 2020 by The Taos News

Taos County 2020 Primary Election Guide

County commission County clerk Treasurer DA Magistrate District judge N.M. Rep D42 N.M. Senate U.S. House D3 U.S. Senate

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OUR PRIMARY IS ON JUNE 2ND. VOTING BY MAIL IS SAFEST THIS YEAR.

HERE’S HOW TO REQUEST YOUR MAIL-IN BALLOT: *ONLINE: Go to the NM Secretary of State’s website: nmvote.org. Fill in the request form and you’re done. *BY PHONE: Call the Taos County Clerk at 575-737-6400. Ask for a mail-in ballot request form. When it arrives, just complete it and mail it back. Whichever way you choose, you’ll get your ballot in the mail in early May.

STAY ENGAGED. STAY SAFE. AND REQUEST YOUR BALLOT TODAY.

575-999-1621 Paid for by Taos County Democratic Party. Darien Fernandez, Chair. George Brown, Treasurer.

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The Only Division 2 Candidate Endorsed By: Vetted and Qualified by a Judicial Selection Commission Entrusted & Appointed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham Di

Serving as Division 2 District Judge Since April 2019

ase Vote to Keep e l P

JUDGE KENNELLY

In the Democratic Primary on June 2, 2020

Retired Judges Hon. Sarah Backus VÆ¯Æ£Ò&#x2020; Â¯Å&#x2018;Å¯Å¯È&#x2013; Å&#x2018;Æ&#x2DC;Ç&#x17E;Æ¯Æ£ Hon. Joseph Caldwell Hon. John Paternoster VÆ¯Æ£Ò&#x2020; mÅ&#x2018;É¥ LÒ&#x2020; }Å&#x201A;1Æ&#x2DC;Ç&#x2013;Æ¯È&#x2013;

Attorneys Gary Alsup Julia Lacey Armstrong Sidney R. Barrett, Jr. Robert O. Beck Jacob Daniel Caldwell Judith D. Cooper Robert E. Crollett John P. Davidson

Richard De Stefano Leslie Anne Fernandez Terrence R. Kamm Paul A. Kastler Mary Lane Leslie Anthony G. Lopez Brigitte U. Lotze Robert J. Malone

Sue B. McDowell Frank E. Murchison III Carol Neelley Dennis Romero Margaret Yvonne Romero Scott H. Sanger Albert G. Simms III

See KeepJudgeKennelly.com for more Endorsements

PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT

PRIMARY 2020

Contents County Commission D-3

County Commission D-4

Taos County Clerk

Taos County Treasurer

Taos Magistrate Judge

8th Judicial District Attorney

Div II – 8th Judicial District Judge

Div III – 8th Judicial District Judge

N.M. Representative – D42

N.M. Senate District 6

N.M. Senate District 8

U.S. House District 3

U.S. Senate District

Public Education Commission

Amid coronavirus chaos, election continues

It was already a hot primary coming up on June 2, with some critical state and national positions up for grabs. A global pandemic brought on by a novel coronavirus only made it hotter, and not in a good way. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued public health emergency orders to close nonessential businesses, limit gatherings to no more than five people and urged people to stay home except for essential trips like to the grocery store. Most county clerks in the state hoped the New Mexico Supreme Court would rule in favor of a petition to make the primary a mail-in ballot election only. That didn’t happen, so voters who don’t want to request an absentee ballot and mail it in can still

Voter information

Due to the the COVID-19 pandemic, voters are urged to request an absentee ballot and mail it in to the county clerk. Absentee voting begins: Tuesday, May 5

Election Day: Tuesday, June 2 How to get an absentee ballot: Request an absentee ballot by filling out an application and returning it to your local county clerk. Applications can be obtained by: • Filling out an application online at secretary of state’s website: sos. state.nm.us/ • Contacting your county clerk’s office by phone, mail or email and request an application Absentee ballot requests through the secretary of state’s website for the 2020 primary election will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, May 28, 2020. Voters can request an absentee ballot for the 2020 primary election from their county clerk through Thursday, May 28, 2020. Requests must be made by this deadline in order for the absentee ballot to be mailed by the appropriate county clerk in a timely manner. Early voting: Early in-person voting on Saturday, May 30 at the county clerk’s office.

Primary election list for Taos County STAFF Robin Martin, owner Chris Baker, publisher Staci Matlock, editor John Miller, assistant editor Doug Cantwell, reporter Jesse Moya, reporter Amy Boaz, chief copy editor Chris Wood, advertising director Karin Eberhardt, creative director Sean Ratliff, production manager On the cover: photograph by Morgan Timms

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LOCAL, STATE AND CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES U.S. SENATE United States Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D) Bob Walsh (Lib) Elisa Maria Martinez (R) Mark V. Ronchetti (R) Gavin S. Clarkson (R) U.S. HOUSE - DISTRICT 3 John Blair (D) Teresa Leger Fernandez (D) Laura Montoya (D)

Valerie Plame (D) Joseph Sanchez (D) Marco Serna (D) Kyle Tisdel (D) Karen Bedonie (R) Alexis Johnson (R) Harry Montoya (R) Angela Gale Morales (R) (Write-in) N.M. SENATE DISTRICT #6 Roberto “Bobby” Jesse Gonzales (D) N.M. STATE SENATE DISTRICT #8 Melissa Kay Fryzel (R) PUBLIC EDUCATION COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 10 Leanne Christine Salazar Montoya (write-in) Steven J. Carrillo (write-in) William Luther Humbert (write-in)

vote in person in their counties on May 30 and on June 2. This special section focuses largely on local Taos County and state races with a brief rundown of the Congressional District 3 and open New Mexico Senate seat. There will be more stories online and in print regarding the important U.S. Senate and House races to represent New Mexico in Congress. And there will be plenty of people making endorsements and going after candidates in the Taos New opinion section. Read up on the candidates. Go to their websites, scroll their social media site, watch their videos. Decide what’s important to you and vote.

Note: Any voter considering making an absentee ballot request on Thursday, May 28 should consider instead voting in-person during early voting hours on Saturday, May 30 or to vote in-person on Election Day, Tuesday, June 2. When must clerk receive absentee ballot applications: Applications must be received by the county clerk no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 28. A ballot will be sent to voters who have properly filled out the application. If the application was not completed correctly, a notification with the reason why the application was not accepted will be sent within 24 hours of receipt of the application. If you do not receive the absentee ballot, contact the county clerk’s office. Contact: Taos County clerk is Anna Martinez at (575) 737-6381 or anna. martinez@taoscounty.org. Colfax County clerk is Rayetta M. Trujillo at (575) 445-5551 or rtrujillo@co.colfax.nm.us Which district do I live in?: To find out which district you live in go to voterportal.servis.sos.state.nm.us/WhereToVote.aspx

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT #42 Mark. L. Gallegos (D) Kristina Ortez (D) Linda H. Calhoun (R) Paul Anthony Martinez (R) PUBLIC EDUCATION COMMISSION Steve Carrillo (D) 8TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY Marcus J. Montoya (D) Paul V. Sanchez (D) 8TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT JUDGE DIVISION II Melissa A. Kennelly (D) Betsy Musselman (D) Anthony J. Ayala (D) Steven A. Romero (D) 8TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT JUDGE DIVISION III Jeff Shannon (D)

MAGISTRATE JUDGE DIVISION II Edwardo C. Martinez (D) Sara Blankenhorn (D) Charlene Tsoodle-Marcus (D) COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT #3 Andrew D. Chavez (D) Darlene J. Vigil (D) Mark T. Flores (D) COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT #4 William E. Cordova (D) Nicklos E. Jaramillo (D) John “Johnny” Rodelo (D) AnJanette Brush (D) COUNTY CLERK Valerie Rael-Montoya (D) Dolores Lujan (D) COUNTY TREASURER Paula Marie Santistevan (D)

Listening to you. Learning from you. Standing up for you.

" ! $ " ! ! " $ ! # ! ! $

Paid political advertisement. Paid for by AnJanette For Taos County, Pascualito Maestas, Treasurer PRIMARY 2020

County Commission D-3 Commission District 3 is being vacated by commissioner Gabriel Romero who has reached his term limit for the position. The district covers much of the western portion of Taos County but also includes the communities of Talpa, Llano Quemado and Ranchos de Taos. The winner of this primary race will go on to be the only member on the November general election ballot. ANDREW CHAVEZ (D) AGE: 71 OCCUPATION: Retired EDUCATION: B.S. mathematics, M.A. public school administration, M.A. counseling and educational psychology with an emphasis in statistics POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: president of the New Mexico Association of Counties, Taos County Commissioner until 2013, Santa Fe County administrative services division director, board member El Valle de Los Ranchos Water and Sanitation District, board president Llano Quemado MDWCA, board president New Mexico State Employees Credit Union, vice president Taos MDWCAs Executive Committee, board member Santa Fe/Rio Arriba 911 Board, president Taos Municipal Schools Teachers Union and other political positions CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No

ing, Chavez said it was important to work with the commission as well as other employees in the county to develop a lasting and effective plan that would also identify potential plots of land that could be used for development. “Not concentrating all affordable housing to one location is important to avoid resistance from the public and to allow residents from those communities to buy houses in their own communities,” Chavez said. According to Chavez, having a comprehensive plan would then allow the county to possibly seek funding from the state and federal government. Chavez has also spent several years working with various associations related to water in the area and has been an active advocate for water protection in the Taos area. Chavez has served as both a member and board president of a number of mutual domestic water associations in the area.

MARK FLORES (D)

o stranger to public service, Andrew Chavez has returned to regain his former set on the Taos County Commission. The former commissioner was unseated in 2013 – he has decided to step up again for his community and is looking to bring in some fresh ideas and extra revenue to Taos County. From generating recurring funds to the budget to new ideas on housing in the county, Chavez is hoping to impart his expertise and work in collaboration to achieve those goals. “In this time of crisis and beyond, by listening to the citizens of Taos County and using the knowledge and skill provided to me by my experience, training, and education, I can help make significant positive decisions affecting the future of the citizenry of Taos County,” Chavez said. Many of the ideas and plans Chavez has for a potential commission campaign include working together with the county manager as well the other commissioners to get the jobs done. When asked about affordable hous-

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AGE: 37 OCCUPATION: Rancher, farmer EDUCATION: U.S. Army Technical Vocational School POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: current Taos Municipal School board member, Hart Acequia Association mayordomo

make a larger footprint. “My intentions are to promote and focus on the economic well being and safety of our Taos County residents,” Flores said. “I want to find a way to bring jobs and industry to our economy that will be sustainable and long term.” In order to ensure Taos County residents have that opportunity, Flores has put affordable housing on the top of his priority list for the campaign. Flores said he plans to look at the vacant or underutilized buildings across the county and strike up a deal with the landowners to either purchase or use the buildings for affordable housing opportunities. In addition, Flores wants to look into the vacation homeowners in Taos county and look at a possible tax on them that could generate revenue for affordable housing within the county. “I will be creative and find a way,” he said. Another item on Flores’ list is the potential that agriculture has to broaden the Taos County economy. Flores is hoping to find incentives for the ag industry and plans to remind community members of the importance of gardening, raising animals and working the land. With his experience in school board issues, Flores is also looking to the youth of Taos County and hopes to bring in trade job opportunities as well as avenues for educating the youth in Taos to allow a future generation to live in the community. “I know the many concerns and needs of our youth and their families and I will continue to fight for their needs and I will continue to serve our youth and their families as a county commissioner,” Flores said.

DARLENE VIGIL (D)

CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No

AGE: 54 OCCUPATION: Retired

rom farming and ranching to school board budgets, Taos’ Mark Flores is ready to take on one more challenge of helping his home community. As a member of the Taos Municipal School Board, Flores has had several years of experience with the political process and the community involved with making the hard decisions. Flores has served as both the vice president and secretary of the school board and is hoping to bring his experience to

EDUCATION: Some college, government administration POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: 31 years with the Taos County Assessor’s Office with the last eight years as Taos County assessor CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No

ome candidates step right out of their day job offices and onto

the campaign. Darlene Vigil is leaving behind over 30 years of experience in the Taos County Assessor’s office to try her hand at the commission seat. Tasked with valuing the property in Taos County, the assessor’s office is key in determining the funding the county receives as well as the taxable value of land. This funding is important when it comes to revenue for various entities in the county such as road repairs or other needed maintenance expenses. “These revenues are utilized in maintaining the operational efficiency of the county. Without this vital funding, Taos County cannot effectively or frequently provide services, such as road repairs, emergency services, senior services, among many others,” Vigil said. After serving eight years as the county assessor, Vigil is ready to take her expertise to the commission and help address Taos County’s economic challenges. Community collaboration is key to Vigil concerning economic growth as well as maintenance in Taos County. If elected, her plan is to involve community members as well as the commission in building assessments to make sure buildings are in good shape and maintaining healthy growth in the community. “Economic development can improve the economic well-being and quality of life of a community; however, it is imperative as a representative of the district to promote listening sessions to determine what the wisdom of the people of the district is and identify their concerns,” Vigil said. “Only when and if this happens can we strike the right balance between smart growth and preserving our treasured traditions.” If elected, Vigil will be looking into status reports of her district to assess the needs within the county. Vigil said she would be looking at the taxable value of property and seeing if that matches the needed funds within the district. After that, Vigil plans to seek additional funding through state and federal means to shore up needed budget expenses like keeping the Taos County Sheriff’s office staffed properly. “I believe in the wisdom of the community, the value of listening to each other and the amazing things we can accomplish when we give space to healthy conversation, respectful disagreement and treating others as we would like to be treated,” Vigil said.

PROVEN EXPERIENCE • LOCAL ROOTS

VOTE FOR THE CANDIDATE WITH EXPERIENCE Betsy has practiced law in northern New Mexico for 38 years, raising her three sons, the Laycock brothers, in Taos County. She has litigated civil, criminal, family law, and domestic violence matters, with decades of on-the-job experience in the courtroom. Betsy is the candidate with experience. She has extensive knowledge of court procedures, practices and rules, and has a thorough understanding of legal statutes all crucial in ruling correctly, honestly and fairly. NM Democratic Primary June 2, – 2020

VOTE!

New Mexico Democratic Primary June 2, 2020 Absentee Ballot Application: Go to: nmvote.org Betsy with Steven, Matthew and John Laycock

ETSY B

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betsymusselmanforjudge.com

D I S T R I C T J U D G E, D I VI S I O N 2 • D E M O C R AT Paid for by The Committee to Elect Elizabeth (Betsy) Musselman for District Judge • Paid Political Advertisement • Treasurer Melody Swan • 575-425-0511

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County Commission D - 4 As the most highly contested commission race this year, the four Democrats will be running for a chance to represent the southeastern portion of Taos County. Current commissioner Tom Blankenhorn has reached his term limit and will not be running to retain the seat.

ANJANETTE BRUSH (D) AGE: 52 OCCUPATION: Communications consultant EDUCATION: Master’s in comparative literature POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Taos County Democratic Party vice chair, member of State Central Committee of the Democratic Party of New Mexico

county,” Brush said. Brush works as the chair of the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps board and said she would also encourage a focus on outdoor activities and recreation as an avenue for job opportunities for youth and community members in Taos County. Along with a growing number of people in Taos County, Brush hopes to find some promise in Taos County for renewable energy and plans to revisit the building codes to ensure new buildings and existing ones are as energy-efficient as possible in the county.

CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No

nJanette Brush is looking to shake things up in this year’s election by becoming only the third woman to ever serve on the Taos County Board of Commissioners. In her efforts to do that, Brush is taking her experience working as the vice chair of the Taos Democratic Party and stepping into the realm of elected public office One focus of her campaign is to take a look at the short-term rentals in Taos County and evaluate their need as well as their impact on the community at large. Brush said she would like to follow the lead of the town of Taos and implement a monitoring system on shortterm rentals in the county. She said she would like to explore a number of tax options on second homeowners as well as those whose homes are vacant for large portions of the year. “I’m running to bring new ideas, hard work and a ‘just get it done’ attitude to the county,” Brush said. If elected, Brush said she plans to help get the Taos County economy out of what she calls a “recovery mode” after the concerns around COVID-19 lessen. In order to accomplish this, Brush is planning on looking at creating livable wages within the county and hopes to promote small farms and light agriculture. “We need to learn from and repeat the small business success stories in food and light manufacturing in our

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WILLIAM CORDOVA (D)

taking a very hard hit without tourists visiting our beautiful area,” Cordova said. Cordova also hopes to address the affordable housing issue in the county by taking a closer look at various properties and obtaining grants to turn those buildings into opportunities for affordable housing units. Cordova said he hopes to ensure the community that county revenues are being spent in the correct places if elected and that Taos County must make sure the resident’s property tax debts are being paid. “The county commission needs to work closely with the county manager, county finance director and county treasurer to ensure that monies are being used wisely, appropriately and for their intended use,” Cordova said. He added, “Collection of unpaid taxes should be a priority.” Despite the setback, Cordova ran to challenge incumbent judge Jeff Shannon for the Magistrate judge position in 2012 but lost.

AGE: 51

NICKLOS JARAMILLO (D)

OCCUPATION: Retired EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in social work

AGE: Declined to state OCCUPATION: Volunteer firefighter, EMS responder

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Ran for Taos County Magistrate judge, 2012 CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No

fter 25 years with state and local governments, William Cordova now has some time to revisit his hopes for serving the public. Born and raised in the Taos area, Cordova said he feels blessed to have had the opportunity to live and work in Taos. He hopes to give the community the same opportunities if he is elected to the Taos County Commission seat. After working for the New Mexico Children Youth and Families Department in Las Cruces for a number of years, Cordova and his family moved back to Taos, where he worked as the detention administrator for the Taos County Adult Detention Center. Cordova was fired from that position. One of Cordova’s focuses in his campaign is to bring Taos County away from a heavy reliance on tourism and hopes to bring in more stable income and economic opportunities to the area. “At this time, our local economy is

EDUCATION: New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy

ty, District 4 contains areas of El Prado’s agricultural lands and Jaramillo hopes to bring back some vitality in them to boost the Taos economy. Through collaboration with the other commissioners, Jaramillo said he hopes to put the focus back into the cultural and traditional ways to bring business to the area that respect the values of Taos County’s people. Jaramillo also hopes to try and make it easier for families to remain in Taos by taking some time to look at property taxes in the county. “As property taxes go up the cost of land increases, thus making it harder for working-class families to invest and build,” he said. The plan for Jaramillo is to look at the Taos Land Use Regulations and make any needed adjustments to make it easier for families to afford to acquire land and build homes. Keeping Taos County above water financially requires money. In order to keep departments functioning property, Jaramillo suggested the county seek grants from both the federal and state governments. This also applies to maintaining and repairing the infrastructure across the county. Jaramillo was named in a possible nepotism situation while on the commission in 2012 after documents showed Jaramillio’s nephew was laid off from the Taos County Housing Authority for having inappropriate relationships with elected officials. No charges were filed as a result of the incident.

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: former Taos County commissioner until 2013

JOHNNY RODELO (D)

CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY? No

icklos Jaramillo returns to the campaign trail as he hopes to regain his former seat on the Taos County Commission. Jaramillo spent 10 years as a commissioner and was unseated by Tom Blankenhorn in 2013. He believes he has knowledge and expertise that will help work for the community of Taos in the public realm once more. “This position will allow me to communicate and advocate the ideas, thoughts and suggestions of the District 4 community members and constituents with local, state and federal government agencies to build and protect our ways of life in Taos County,” Jaramillo said. As the central district in Taos Coun-

AGE: 59 OCCUPATION: Supervisor of Probation, Taos County DWI Compliance office EDUCATION: Some college POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No

ohnny Rodelo is a newcomer to the political scene and is hoping to make a splash against his opponents in the commission race. As a freshman candidate, Rodelo is relying mostly on his nearly 20 years of continues on page 10

Raised in the heart of the 8th Judicial District in Cimarron, NM, Steven has the unique perspective of someone who grew up in the District and has also practiced law in Taos, Federal Court, and the Military. He received bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and law degrees from the University of New Mexico and a Master of Laws degree in Comparative International Law from St. Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s University. As a prosecutor, Steven has successfully litigated hundreds of cases from poaching to first degree murder and everything in between. He has screened cases to ensure due process for all and worked hard to achieve justice and fair resolutions in the courtroom. Steven also has experience working with specialty courts like mental health court, drug court, and veteranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s court. As a Captain in the Army Judge Advocate Generalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Corps, Steven has represented and advised Soldiers within the Military Justice system and in the areas estate planning, consumer protection, and family law. He has also served as a Military Magistrate and advised numerous commanders, including three-star Generals. As a Judge, Steven would rely on his unique and diverse experiences to deliver fair, educated rulings in the courtroom. Vote for Steven A Romero for 8th Judicial District Court Judge, Division 2!

*Steven Romero is a member of the United States Army Reserve. Use of his rank, job titles and military information does not imply endorsement by the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense. Paid Political Advertisement. Paid for by the Committee to Elect Steven A. Romero. Tomas Romero, Treasurer

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continues from page 8 experience as a Taos County employee to get him on the commission and he has a passion to help those working for the county. “County employees are underappreciated and underpaid, especially our corrections officers and sheriff deputies who next to our health care workers are at the front lines of public safety and potential exposure to the coronavirus and violence in our community,” Rodelo said. “All county

employees should be fairly compensated and protected.” If elected, Rodelo hopes to bring shoppers back to Taos to shore up what he calls an “economic leakage.” According to Rodelo, many county residents make their money working here and spend their paychecks on goods in Santa Fe, Española and Albuquerque. Rodelo said Taos County needs to look at meeting the needs of the consumers here to keep the gross receipts tax within the county. District 4 has a number of infrastructure needs that several candidates

Taos County Clerk Overseeing records and elections, the Taos County clerk candidates both currently work in the clerk’s office. Current clerk Anna Martinez has reached her term limit and instead will be handing the position off to one of her deputy clerks for the November election. Both candidates have years of experience in the clerk’s office and have worked the various jobs needed to fulfil the position of county clerk. From council meetings to records requests, the Taos County Clerk is responsible for the public records within Taos County.

DOLORES LUJAN (D) AGE: 56 OCCUPATION: Taos County deputy clerk EDUCATION: High School POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No

olores Lujan has put nearly 26 years in the Taos County clerk’s office working in the various positions and is hoping to secure the head position of the office. According to Lujan, the most important job of the county clerk is to maintain the integrity of the office. In order to help keep that integrity and promote transparency, Lujan said she would enact an open-door policy for the public and Taos County staff making the clerk’s office more open to the needs of the community. “I see where I can positively build upon the existing team environment in order to assure the highest quality of service is delivered, as well as offer public education from our youth voters to our elderly constituents,” Lujan said. If elected, Lujan said she would

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continue the practices of the clerk’s office to maintain security as it moves into more of a digital realm. While not always able to attend the commission meetings, Lujan said she would try to implement a rotating schedule to get those working in the clerk’s office to the meetings. Commission meetings require the clerk to keep record of the meetings for public access.

VALERIE RAEL MONTOYA (D)

are hoping to address. In particular, Rodelo wants to focus on a number of roads in the district including Blueberry Hill Road. “Blueberry Hill Road needs to be repaved and widened as it currently serves as the county’s only real bypass away from the congested traffic in Taos,” Rodelo said. In order to do this, he proposes that the county look for any available grants or funding through the state and federal governments to secure the money needed for such projects. While Rodelo is a newcomer to the political scene, he is no stranger to

the needs and concerns of the people in the district. In order to address the need for housing in Taos, he plans to explore community development block grants to secure funds for affordable housing and add more dwellings for the workforce in the county. “Currently, the town is working with developers to add 76 units off Herdner Road near Walmart,” Rodelo said. “Progress has been made, but much more is needed and the county must do its share to meet this critical need.”

Rael Montoya has worked nearly every job in the clerk’s office from transcriber to the election circuit and has also had the responsibility of working at nearly every Taos County Commission meeting in some aspect. “I believe that the most important aspect of the county clerk is ensuring that the public is confident that their documents are protected and secure,” she said. In keeping the transparency and security for the public, Rael Montoya said the office of the clerk is doing well at maintaining both and plans to keep the status quo if elected.

The county clerk oversees and maintains the public records of Taos County, oversees the bureau of elections as well as responds to information requests and funnels them through the correct avenues, all of which Rael Montoya has had experience in. “I feel these positions have all qualified me and provided me with the opportunity to seek the position of Taos County Clerk,” Rael Montoya said.

Taos County Treasurer The Taos County Treasurer is responsible for the finances of Taos County. Current treasurer Susan Trujillo will be handing the seat down to deputy treasurer Paula Marie Santistevan for this election. Running unopposed, Santistevan will be responsible for all monies collected in the county as well as assisting with the county’s annual audit. Additionally, all billing and collection of property taxes moves through the treasurer’s office.

AGE: 39

PAULA MARIE SANTISTEVAN (D)

OCCUPATION: Taos County chief deputy clerk

AGE: 46 OCCUPATION: Chief deputy treasurer

EDUCATION: Some college POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: member, Taos County Federation of Democratic Women CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No

alerie Rael Montoya has over 14 years of experience in the Taos County clerk’s office and is looking to move from her position as chief deputy clerk to the head of the office.

EDUCATION: Some college POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No

or the past 15 years, Paula Santistevan has been working with the treasurer’s office and has been learning the ropes of Taos County finance.

“I am privileged to have worked with two county treasurers that have done a great job at managing their offices,” Santistevan said. “So I don’t believe I would change anything but I will continue to build on the foundation they have set to further improve the operations of the office.” Santistevan will be running unopposed in this year’s election and will have her first go at public office. In the treasurer’s office, Santistevan has been responsible for the monthly cash reports, reporting information to the state as well as being the main point of contact between the county and the state for the annual audit.

PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT

DARLENE J. VIGIL

Democrat for Taos County Commissioner, District 3 in 2020

PROVEN EXPERIENCE

VOTE

VALERIE RAEL-MONTOYA

Balance in any organization is crucial in order to achieve a broad representation, and I hope to add that to the Taos County Commission. Please vote in the Democratic Primary on June 2nd, 2020 by requesting an absentee ballot at nmvote.org or by contacting the County Clerk. Paid for by Darlene J. Vigil PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT

Gov. Lujan Grisham appointed an attorney to the bench

VOTE IN THE PRIMARY TO KEEP HER!

MAGISTRATE JUDGE DEMOCRAT – DIVISION II

I am a candidate for Taos County Clerk in the upcoming June 2, 2020 Primary Election. I am currently the Chief Deputy Clerk and have been for the past 7 years, I have worked in the Clerk’s office for a total of 14 years. In that time, I have worked as a Deputy Clerk, Transcriber, Lodger’s Tax Secretary/ Grants Coordinator, and have worked alongside Bureau of Election staff. I have assisted in over 20 elections from start to finish. I feel that I have gained the knowledge and experience needed to be your next Taos County Clerk. I would like to ask for your vote and support on Tuesday, June 2, 2020. Thank you!

VALERIE RAEL-MONTOYA DEMOCRAT PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT CTE Valerie Rael-Montoya for Taos County Clerk; Sandy Montoya-Martinez, Treasurer and paid for by Ray and Jeannette G. Rael

PAID FOR BY THE COMMITTEE TO KEEP JUDGE SARA BLANKENHORN, JIM JOHNSTON TREASURER.

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Taos Magistrate Court Judge Sarah Blankenhorn, an attorney from Taos, was appointed in March to succeed Jeff Shannon after he was appointed to fill a vacant position as a Taos District Court judge in 2019. Blankenhorn is campaigning to retain her seat against two others: former New Mexico State Police lieutenant Edwardo Martinez and longtime legal administrator Charlene TsoodleMarcus. All are running as Democrats, making for a short race.

SARA BLANKENHORN (D) AGE: 37 OCCUPATION: Appointed Taos Magistrate Court judge EDUCATION: Juris doctor from University of New Mexico School of Law PREVIOUS POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: No CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No SOCIAL MEDIA: judgesarablankenhorn.com/, facebook.com/sarablankenhornformagistrate/

ince she was appointed in March as a Taos Magistrate Court judge by New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Sara Blankenhorn said she has only grown more certain that she is the right person for the role. “When I sent my application to the governor for the open magistrate judge position, I did so because I believe my experience, skills and disposition make me a good candidate for this position,” Blankenhorn said. “After taking the bench, I have even more conviction about this and am also just plain excited to do this work.” Blankenhorn was born and raised in Taos and is a graduate of Taos High School. She received her undergraduate degree in philosophy from the University of Washington and a master’s in philosophy and Western literature from St. John’s College in 2008. She graduated from University of New Mexico Law School in 2011. While earning her law degree, Blankenhorn interned with the New Mexico Office of the Public Defender and worked as a teaching assistant in criminal law classes. Next, she worked for one year as an assistant district attorney prosecuting criminal cases with the 1st Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Santa Fe, where she handled domestic violence and DWI cases. For the past six years, she has shifted her focus to general civil litigation. She has also represented clients in the family law court in Taos and in domestic violence court for three years. On the

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side, she runs a short-term rental business in Taos and has a small interest in Blankenhorn Investments. She beat out five other applicants who had applied for the governor’s appointment. Since then, her competition to retain her position has thinned from five competitors to now just two other challengers. Taos County District I Commissioner Jim Fambro, who serves on the commission with Blankenhorn’s father, District IV Commissioner Tom Blankenhorn, dropped out of the race to focus on the needs of the county, he said. The two other attorneys who had applied also decided not to run for election: Angela Macdonald, who worked as an assistant district attorney for a year and a half in San Juan and Taos counties, and Tim Hasson, the most experienced of the three litigators to throw his hat in the ring. Being the only attorney voters have to choose from in the primary election will likely serve to her advantage, Blankenhorn said. “The most relevant distinction between myself and the other candidates running for magistrate judge Division II is that I am an attorney and have years of experience practicing law in areas relevant to the jurisdiction of the magistrate court,” she said.

EDWARDO MARTINEZ (D) AGE: 44 OCCUPATION: Retired New Mexico State Police lieutenant EDUCATION: Associate degree in criminal justice and political science from Northern New Mexico College PREVIOUS POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: No CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No SOCIAL MEDIA: facebook.com/ groups/550741862185432/

dwardo Martinez is a veteran law enforcement officer who spent the last two decades of his career working for New Mexico State Police in Northern New Mexico. Since retiring as a lieutenant and the commander of the state police district in Taos at the end of 2019, Martinez has set his sights on becoming a magistrate court judge. “I want to see the other side of it,” Martinez said. “I know it already – I know the police side of it. The Constitution is the Constitution, and it protects people just as much as you use it to put people in jail.” Born in Los Alamos but raised in Taos, Martinez graduated from Taos High School in 1994 and then received his associate degree in criminal justice and political science from Northern New Mexico College in Española. Martinez began his career in law enforcement at Taos Pueblo, working as an officer with the tribal police department and then working with the town of Taos Police department. He moved on to New Mexico State Police in 2002 in Española, where he worked as a patrolman for under two years, but earned a reputation for developing solid criminal cases in the area. The state’s criminal investigations division took notice, and then recruited him to work as an investigator in Taos. Martinez also worked in the state narcotic’s division. He was promoted to the rank uniform sergeant and then to lieutenant in 2013. Martinez became commander of the Taos district, where he remained until he retired in December. He attended the FBI Academy in Virginia in 2017, an experience that he said gave him a stronger grasp of how to work large narcotics cases and helped him learn how to better utilize federal resources to put away repeat offenders. “I have testified on the witness stand many times, being in court for hours and sometimes days,” Martinez said. ““Most people who appear in court are not in court because things are going well. I would consider every case hard and important. I have experience in cases involving murder, rape, violent crime, domestic violence, DWI, drugs and public corruption. All are difficult and important to someone. As a judge, I would base all my decisions on the evidence presented, the facts of the case and the law no matter how difficult it may be.”

CHARLENE TSOODLE-MARCUS (D) AGE: 72 OCCUPATION: Student EDUCATION: Bachelor’s in political science/ criminal justice from New Mexico State University; pursuing master’s in criminal justice from Capella University PREVIOUS POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: No CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No SOCIAL MEDIA: facebook.com/charlene. tsoodlemarcus.37

harlene Tsoodle-Marcus has worked in criminal justice her entire life. Before retiring in February to focus on finishing a master’s degree in criminal justice from Capella University, Tsoodle-Marcus had worked for Eight Northern Indian Pueblos for seven years as its domestic violence program director. Tsoodle-Marcus was born in Lawton, Oklahoma, but was raised in Taos. She is of Taos Pueblo and Kiowa descent. After graduating from Taos High School in 1966, she went on to obtain an associate degree in political science from Monterey Peninsula College and a Bachelor’s Degree from New Mexico State University. Tsoodle-Marcus has worked as a judge in the past, having served on the bench at the Taos Pueblo Tribal Court from 2008 to 2013. Prior to that, she worked as an administrator from 2006-2007 at the Taos County Adult Detention Center on Albright Street. She also worked as a part-time faculty member at the University of New Mexico-Taos branch and at Northern New Mexico College in Española, where she served as the Northern Pueblos Institute coordinator. For Taos County and Taos Pueblo, she worked as a planner and coordinator, respectively. She started her career with National Indian Justice Planning as a justice specialist and criminal justice planner. She spent several years at the New Mexico Corrections Department as a manager, specialist, extradition officer and planner. “My lifetime devotion to criminal justice gives me an understanding of the unique challenges and experiences that are facing the criminal justice system, our families and our loved ones,” she said.

8th Judicial District Attorney This year’s race for 8th Judicial District Attorney will decide who will lead an office that was occupied by the same person for nearly two decades: Donald Gallegos. After Gallegos retired early in July of last year, he recommended that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham appoint one of his young but skilled prosecutors, Marcus Montoya. Lujan Grisham agreed, and now after 10 months in the position, Montoya will have to fight to remain DA. He faces off with Paul Sanchez, a native of Arroyo Hondo, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and a former New Mexico State Police lieutenant. Both are running as Democrats. The race will be decided in the June primary.

MARCUS MONTOYA (D) AGE: 42 OCCUPATION: 8th Judicial District Attorney EDUCATION: Juris doctor from University of New Mexico School of Law PREVIOUS POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Selected by New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to succeed former 8th Judicial District Attorney Donald Gallegos in 2019 CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No SOCIAL MEDIA: montoya4da.com, facebook. com/Montoya4DA/

overnor Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed Marcus Montoya, who is from Taos County, to succeed former 8th Judicial District Attorney Donald Gallegos last July, marking the first

Tsoodle-Marcus said she also has a deep knowledge of tribal law and assisted some tribes in writing legal code. For Taos County, too, she helped write policies and procedures for the county jail. She gained political experience as a board member for the New Mexico Justice Planning Board from 1972 to 1980 and as chairwoman for the Northern Pueblos Housing Authority. She said she has devoted her life to serving the people of her community. “I came from the back alleys and the mountain of the Taos Pueblo and went to the old Walgreens in Taos to get the best hamburger, and I am a Taos Tiger,” she said. “I belong to the people of Taos Pueblo, town of Taos and all the [tourists] that come for miles to see their heritage in Taos Pueblo. Everything belongs to the people.”

change in leadership at the office in 18 years. While Montoya has held the position for just over nine months, he said he’s been busy taking the office in a new direction. “I am proud of the work we have done to establish improved open lines of comprehensive communication with the district attorney’s office and victims, law enforcement officers, victim advocacy groups, treatment providers, the defense bar and within our own office,” Montoya said. Montoya grew up in Ranchos de Taos and graduated from Taos High School. After attending Beloit College in Wisconsin, he went on to earn his juris doctor from University of New Mexico School of Law. While he was still a law student, he interned at the 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. He worked as a clerk for Taos District Court judges Emilio Chavez and Sarah Backus, who retired in early 2019. Montoya also completed a clinic focused on prosecuting domestic violence and DWI cases in Albuquerque while he was at UNM. Gallegos hired Montoya as a trial attorney in June 2017, and over the next two years, Montoya worked several high-profile criminal cases that resulted in convictions. Montoya was on the trial team that landed a lifesentence conviction against Brandon Lopez, whom the jury found guilty of shooting and killing Destiny Valdez at the Shell gas station on Paseo del Cañón West in Taos. Last year, Montoya was named by Gallegos as the 8th Judicial District Prosecutor of the Year. As DA, Montoya says he’s made himself available to his team while also making connections that can help improve the district. “I’ve taken a proactive approach toward establishing working relationships with our federal and state partners and advocating for the district attorney’s office,” he said. “I was able to present to the New Mexico Legislative Criminal Justice Reform Commit-

tee on the topics of pretrial detention, parole and probation reform, criminal sentencing, and the need for mental and behavioral health facilities in our district.” Montoya also met with a federal delegation last year about the importance, he said, of keeping fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, on the controlled substances list. “This opioid epidemic is crippling our households, killing our loved ones, and hurting our economy,” he said. “We cannot incarcerate ourselves out of this war on addiction by using the old ineffective approach over the last 100 years of arrest, prosecute and jail.” For offenders whose primary issue is substance abuse, Montoya said he’d advocate for detox and behavioral health treatment to help get at the root of addiction. A detox facility planned by Río Grande Alcoholism Treatment Program for a building on Salazar Road in Taos is still a go, but has met with delays that have stalled its opening, which was planned for sometime this year. Montoya said he had no involvement with a plea agreement his office reached with a Taos High School student who was granted probation after being accused of sexually assaulting two other students on school grounds in 2017 and 2018. But he has taken some heat for a plea deal that allowed Rafael Orozco, a repeat violent felon, to go to drug treatment instead of to prison for seven years last October. Orozco left treatment after less than two weeks and was arrested on April 20. He is now under investigation for a rape, attempted murder and kidnapping case in Española. Montoya defended the deal, saying that his office had no guarantee of landing a conviction at trial. The bargain, he said, guaranteed that Orozco would either clean up his act or land in prison for a much longer sentence. Montoya said his office will enforce the maximum 14-year sentence Orozco now faces. Even though he was appointed by a man who served as DA for nearly two decades, Montoya defines his approach to the office “as a progressive one.” “Being the district attorney for me is not just a paycheck, it’s not just securing a second retirement for myself, it’s not just a job for me. Being your district attorney is a mission, with a clear vision moving forward,” he said.

PAUL SANCHEZ (D) AGE: 51 OCCUPATION: Attorney EDUCATION: Juris doctor from St. Mary’s School of Law PREVIOUS POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Ran for 8th Judicial District Attorney in 2018 CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: Charged in a domestic violence case in Santa Fe Magistrate Court that was dismissed in 2003 SOCIAL MEDIA: paulsanchezforda.com/, facebook.com/SanchezforDA/

fter losing his first race for 8th Judicial District Attorney in 2016 when he ran against his former boss, Donald Gallegos, Paul Sanchez is making a second run at the highest law enforcement office in the district this year. Sanchez was born and raised in Arroyo Hondo and enrolled in the U.S. Marine Corps after graduating from Taos High School. From 1990-2008, he worked as an officer for New Mexico State Police, eventually reaching the rank of lieutenant. After graduating with a juris doctor from St. Mary’s School of Law in 2008, he practiced law working for the Roswell Police Force, the First Judicial District and then the 8th district, where he worked as deputy district attorney in Clayton and Raton counties. During his first campaign, Sanchez criticized Gallegos for being too lenient on crime in the district. This year, he’s running on a similar platform and refers to his opponent, Marcus Montoya, as Gallegos’ “handgroomed successor.” “Having served as chief deputy prosecutor here in the 8th, I observed some troubling patterns: a disconnect between law enforcement and the DA that resulted in cases falling apart. I saw finger-pointing by the DA and I saw case mismanagement,” Sanchez said. “Along with that came questions of equal justice and favoritism. So I am running because I have the experience to fix a broken system.” Sanchez actually won Taos County by a thin margin that year, according to Taos News archives, but lost to Gallegos in Clayton and Ratón counties. He came out swinging against Gallegos in 2016 and is already doing the same continues on page 14 PRIMARY 2020

continues from page 13 this year against Montoya, whom New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed to succeed Gallegos in July. Montoya and Sanchez are both running as Democrats in a race without a Republican entrant, so the election will be decided during the June primary. “We can’t let violent, repeat felons like Rafael Orozco sucker us into naive plea deals and then walk away,” Sanchez said, taking a shot at his opponent. “We can’t let multiple high school girls be victimized in their own schoolyard by the same boy and then drop the charges.” Orozco, a repeat felon well known to law enforcement, was charged with battering his newborn baby, the child’s mother and a security guard at Holy

Cross Medical Center in 2016. He eventually picked up two more violent felony cases after he was incarcerated at the Taos County jail. Montoya helped prosecutors arrange a plea bargain that allowed Orozco a final chance: attend two years at a drug treatment program in lieu of seven years in prison; and if he violated the deal, his sentence would be doubled. Subsequently, Orozco absconded and has only recently been apprehended – now facing 14 years in prison. The second case Sanchez referenced involved a teenager at Taos High School who was accused of sexually assaulting two female students on school grounds in 2017 and 2018, time when the DA’s office was still under Gallegos’ leadership. Montoya did not prosecute the case, and became DA just prior to the signing of a plea

Division II 8th Judicial District Judge Another one-party race, this year’s election for Division II 8th Judicial District judge will see Melissa Kennelly, a former attorney for the district appointed last year, face off against three challengers: Anthony Ayala, a longtime private defense attorney; Betsy Musselman, who has run a private practice in Taos for 40 years; and Steven Romero, an assistant U.S. district attorney with roots in the district.

ANTHONY J. AYALA (D) AGE: 65 OCCUPATION: Attorney EDUCATION: Juris doctor from the University of Utah PREVIOUS POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Ran for Division I 8th Judicial District Court Judge in 2016 CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: Yes, a drug charge 35 years ago SOCIAL MEDIA: No

nthony Ayala, an Albuquerque criminal and civil defense attorney who ran against Taos District Court Judge Emilio Chavez in 2016, has been getting his name out there again. Some of that effort has been visible in the form of opinion pieces and paid ads submitted to the Taos News over the past two years. In his writings, Ayala has criticized district prosecu-

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tor Tim Hasson for his handling of the 2018 “Amalia compound” case and former District Attorney Donald Gallegos for his handling of the Martin Rivera crime spree case. He’s also spoken out against current DA Marcus Montoya for his handling of the Rafael Orozco case. In every piece, Ayala has noted how he would have handled cases differently. Now he hopes he’ll have a chance to display better judgement from the bench. “I am the best choice because I have tried over 360 jury trials, and because I know criminal defendants and crime and will be able to best address issues regarding punishment and if necessary treatment,” Ayala said of his run for magistrate judge. As an attorney for many years, Ayala has taken on some tough cases, including a 1995 double-murder case filed against Michael Paul Cote in Albuquerque. Cote ended up pleading no contest to the 26 charges that were filed against him in the case in order to avoid the death penalty, which wasn’t abolished in New Mexico until 2009.

agreement that granted the young man charged probation. According to Pew Research Center, 94 percent of state criminal convictions are achieved through plea deals. However, Sanchez pounced upon the complicated deal as a point on which to criticize his opponent, who he said is less experienced than he is. “First, I learned discipline as a member of the U.S. Marines,” Sanchez said. “Second, I learned law enforcement from the ground up as I worked from patrol officer to Lieutenant with the New Mexico State Police. And third, as a Prosecutor I learned how to try cases before a judge and jury – not just plea bargain them – handling hundreds of felonies in Taos, Union, Colfax and Chavez counties.” Sanchez has had a run-in with the law himself. When he was still with

state police in 2003, he was charged in the 1st Judicial District with battery against a household member, a misdemeanor in New Mexico. According to Taos News archives, a New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy Board case concerning the allegations remained open until early 2008. That year, Sanchez agreed to relinquish his law enforcement certification. During that election, he told the Taos News that he did so in order to put the matter behind him. “I don’t think that you can do this kind of service well if you don’t have open ears, an open mind and an open heart,” Sanchez said of his second run for DA. “Listening is the key to meaningful leadership, and I will continue to do that.”

Instead, he was sentenced to life in prison. Ayala was also part of a lawsuit concerning overcrowding in Albuquerque’s jail several years ago, according to Taos News archives. He has also worked as a management analyst for the state of New Mexico and ran unsuccessfully for a district court judgeship in Albuquerque approximately 25 years ago, also according to archives. Ayala is originally from Taos, where he attended Taos Elementary School and Taos Junior High School. He is the grandson of Rumaldo Garcia, former Taos mayor. He is the son of artist Lydia Garcia and Leroy Garcia. Ayala’s brother, Floyd, was a police officer for the Taos Police Department. Ayala obtained his law degree from the University of Utah before he returned to practice in New Mexico. Despite his extensive experience providing defense counsel in New Mexico courtrooms, Ayala many years ago has had his own brushes with the law. He said in an email to the Taos News that he was convicted in a possession of marijuana case 35 years ago in Taos. He said he and Dennis Hopper, the late actor, were caught smoking marijuana in a truck. They were sentenced to detox. According to an article published in the Albuquerque Journal in 2004, Ayala was also at one point accused of being an “unindicted co-conspirator” in a marijuana distribution ring. One of his former defendants even said he had paid Ayala with 200 pounds of marijuana worth $80,000. Ayala said the allega-

tions were untrue. Court records show no related charges from the incident. Ayala was also reprimanded by the New Mexico Supreme Court in 1984 for attorney misconduct, including “subornation of false statements, intimidation of witnesses, dishonesty and intentional misrepresentation to the Disciplinary Board in the form of false statements made to the board,” according to the legal website Justia. Ayala said those events are long in the past and that he remains the most qualified choice to serve as judge.

MELISSA KENNELLY (D) AGE: 44 OCCUPATION: Appointed 8th Judicial District Court judge EDUCATION: Juris doctor from University of New Mexico School of Law PREVIOUS POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: No CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No SOCIAL MEDIA: KeepJudgeKennelly.com, facebook.com/keepjudgekennelly/

ince she was appointed to replace Sarah Backus a little over a year ago, Melissa Kennelly says she has learned more as an 8th Judicial District Court Judge in Ratón than she had in her previous 10 years as a lawyer. “In taking over as a new judge,

I’ve worked many 14-hour days and weekends to prepare for my hearings by studying the rules of procedure, statutes and case law, and the history of each of the cases that I took over as a new judge,” Kennelly said. Before she came to New Mexico, Kennelly served as the first female police officer in the Broadview Heights Police Department in Broadview, Ohio, from 1998 to 2004. She was previously a member of the New Mexico State Bar Ethics Advisory Committee. She earned her law degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 2010 and was admitted to the New Mexico bar that same year. Prior to her appointment, she worked as an attorney for the 8th Judicial District Court, conducting research for judges, acting as a mediator for civil cases and handling special projects. Kennelly now presides over 900 cases, “ranging from felony criminal matters to land and water matters, foreclosure and debt collection, probate, juvenile delinquency, child abuse and neglect, and I preside over the Ratón Adult Drug Court,” she said. She said she has become well acquainted not only with the legal procedures that are necessary to get

through each day, but with the people who come through her courtroom. “I’ve become thoroughly familiar with my caseload and care about the people and issues involved in those cases; I want to see them through,” she said. On the other side of the mountains from Taos, she said resources are relatively scarce, especially those pertaining to mental health and substance abuse problems, which lie at the root of many criminal cases she presides over. “Fortunately, the judiciary has recognized this. We are working with treatment providers and community members to expand services so that nonviolent offenders can be diverted into effective pretrial service and treatment programs instead of being held in jail or prison, where they may get no help at all. The downside is that rural areas are often the last to get these services.” Kennelly says she is running on a campaign platform that emphasizes fairness in the judicial system “without regard for their political power or affiliation or their socioeconomic status,” she said.

A VOTE FOR ME IS A VOICE FOR YOU ELECTION DAY JUNE 2 Family with deep roots in serving, protecting and working for Taos County.

• • •

Brother of a local Taos County Sheriff ’s Deputy and local Rancher Teodoro Flores Great Grandson of a former Taos County Sheriff. Colombus Ferguson Grandson of long serving Educator. Polito E. Martinez

• • • •

Will work to provide our local law enforcement and emergency services with the tools, training and pay they deserve. Will continue to support and promote education within our community Will support mental health and drug rehabilitation Will work towards establishing a District III Fire Sub-Station to protect our local community

BETSY MUSSELMAN (D) AGE: Unknown OCCUPATION: Attorney EDUCATION: Law degree from University of Denver PREVIOUS POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Unknown CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No SOCIAL MEDIA: betsymusselmanforjudge. com/my-experience, facebook.com/ Betsy-Musselman-for-District-CourtJudge-112818203532850/

etsy Musselman received her law degree from the University of Denver in 1980 and has maintained a private practice in Taos for the last 40 years, according to her campaign website. She also worked for the 8th Judicial District from 1998 to 2006 as a domestic relations hearing officer and domestic violence commissioner. Musselman served on first lady Barbara Richardson’s task force on domestic

violence and worked as a civil attorney for the Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council. “In addition to my professional activities, I received a certificate of appreciation for my pro bono work from the New Mexico Supreme Court, and have served on the board of several nonprofit organizations in and around Taos including Community Against Violence, Amigos Bravos and the Casa de Corazon Girls’ Home,” she wrote. She says her roots in Taos County run deep and she raised her three sons in the area. If elected, she said she “will make it my priority to ensure that [Northern] New Mexico remains a place where citizens know they will be treated honestly and fairly.” Musselman did not respond to questions regarding her candidacy as of press time. continues on page 16

Strong In Experience!

Hard Working • Experienced • Honest • Committed

Mark T. Flores II

HONESTY • ETHICS • EXPERIENCE ENCE

Taos County Commissioner District III

(575)779-3369 | taoselevatedsolutions@gmail.com Paid Political Advertisement. Paid for by the Committee to Elect Mark Flores. Treasurer Rosa Flores.

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continues from page 15

STEVEN ROMERO (D) AGE: 34 OCCUPATION: Special Assistant U.S. attorney, U.S. Army Reserve captain EDUCATION: Juris doctor from University of New Mexico School of Law, comparative international law degree from St. Mary’s University PREVIOUS POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: No CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No SOCIAL MEDIA: romeroforjudge.com/, facebook.com/Romero4Judge/

teven Romero served as a senior trial attorney in Taos before transitioning to the 2nd Judicial District in Albuquerque, but now he’s hoping to return to the district where he grew up and his legal experience began. “I am running for district judge to serve my community, and Division 2 is where I grew up and where I hope to raise my own family,” Romero said. “At this point in my career, the ideal way to continue to serve my community is by bringing my experience as a litigator and native of the 8th Judicial District to bear as Division 2 District Court judge.” Romero graduated from Cimarrón High School in 2004 and went on to obtain his bachelor’s from the University of New Mexico in 2009. He double majored in political science and sociology. In 2012, he graduated with his law degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law. While still in school, Romero worked for the 8th Judicial District

JEFF SHANNON (D) (UNOPPOSED)

Division III 8th Judicial District Judge

Jeff Shannon, a Taos Magistrate Court judge for seven and a half years, was appointed to Taos District Court last year, replacing Jeff McElroy, who retired after 17 years with the district, the last seven as judge. Shannon is running unopposed this election and will hold the office for a full term.

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AGE: 54 OCCUPATION: Taos District Court judge EDUCATION: Juris doctor from University of New Mexico School of Law PREVIOUS POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Ran for 8th Judicial District Attorney in 2008; was elected Taos Magistrate Court judge in 2012 and reelected in 2014; appointed 8th Judicial District Court judge in 2019 CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No SOCIAL MEDIA: No

Attorney’s Office from 2012 to 2014. Then he left to work in public records litigation for the city of Albuquerque. He joined the U.S. Army reserve in 2014, and continued to utilize his legal skills, representing the government at hundreds of hearings in federal court, authorizing search warrants as a military magistrate and providing legal counsel to reservists and their families. Romero said his legal knowledge and integrity was tested when he worked as a judge advocate in the army. In that role, he was “tasked with conducting impartial legal reviews of investigations, including investigations into liability for missing or damaged equipment,” he said. “My review of one investigation was at odds with a two-star general, who wanted to hold a soldier liable for a piece of equipment,” Romero said. “At the time, I was still a lieutenant and, when the general sent my legal review back with a note of disapproval,

I had the chance to change my review. Instead, I wrote a much longer legal review explaining my analysis, and the soldier was not held liable.” He says he would bring the same level of fairness to the bench if he is elected. Before he took his current job in Albuquerque last year, Romero worked as a prosecutor for the DA’s office in Taos, handling hundreds of misdemeanor and felony cases, he said. “As a Northern New Mexico native with experience in state court, federal court and the military, I am uniquely qualified to serve Division 2 as judge,” he said. “I have extensive experience as a litigator, and I have advised clients with numerous legal issues. I would rely on that experience and unique perspective to ensure everyone who steps into the court gets justice, due process and fair treatment.”

practice, which specialized in child abuse and neglect cases. He also served as a criminal defense attorney at the Alan Maestas Law Office before his election. Shannon, like his fellow judges in the Taos County magistrate and district courts, has been operating his courtroom under unusual circumstances as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hearings that might otherwise see at least a dozen people in attendance are now typically only attended by Shannon and a court clerk. Most hearings are conducted via videoconferencing software, with defendants phoning in from the Taos County jail and attorneys from their offices. While Shannon did not respond to questions this year, he said during his last election, “Since 2012, I have striven every day to treat everyone fairly.”

eff Shannon, who was appointed to the bench in Taos District Court last year after seven and a half years in Taos Magistrate Court, will remain as judge for at least the next four years. Shannon, who faces no competition in this year’s election, is already well known to most residents of Taos County, and certainly to anyone who’s appeared before him in court. Shannon acquired his bachelor’s from Auburn University at Montgomery (Alabama) in 1991, and then his master’s from the University of Alabama in 1993. He moved to New Mexico in 1999, where he graduated from the University of New Mexico School of Law. Before he became a judge, Shannon worked as a public defender in Taos in the early 2000s. From 2004 until his election in 2012, he ran a private law

Proven Leadership

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Will Advocate For: Quality Health Care • Road Improvement & Maintenance Government Accountability • Accountability of Tax Resources Allocation of Federal Taxes • Proper Jail Management Build Communications with Fed• Preserve & Standardize Land-Use eral, State & Local Entities Regulations Completion of Veteran Cemetery

Born & Raised in Arroyo Hondo Member of the Hondo-Seco Volunteer Fire/Rescue Department Former Taos County Commissioner District 4 For more info: 575 776-8437 (home) 575 779-3389 (cell) dsjaramillo@aol.com

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N.M. Representative District 42

KRISTINA ORTEZ (D)

LINDA CALHOUN (R)

AGE: 46

AGE: 65

Calhoun has been the mayor of Red River since 2006 and served as a councilor for the town before that in the 1990s. Since then, Calhoun has been working at Calhoun Real Estate in Red River and also runs Main Street Mercantile in the town. This business experience has given Calhoun ideas to deal with the current COVID-19 concerns circulating the country. “The loss of life and damage to our economy will be felt for years to come,” Calhoun said about the pandemic. “I believe that we need antibody testing so we know who, in theory, has had the virus and can return to work. Our district is heavily dependent on tourism.” Businesses in Red River are currently abiding by the state’s public health orders. Calhoun said she wants people in the district to have minimal exposure risks to COVID-19 before the town can return to full blown working conditions. Calhoun recently made the tiebreaking decision on the Red River Council to cancel vendors from this year’s Memorial Day Motorcycle Rally, an event that brings in over 10,000 visitors to the small mountain town. Calhoun said the decision was not something she takes lightly but was what was needed to keep the town safe and healthy. “We need to ensure that New Mexicans in rural areas have access to health care, testing and can get back to work,” Calhoun said. “We also need to look at ways to safely and responsibly start opening our businesses again.” In order to bring in more money to District 42, Calhoun proposed a focus on outdoor recreation as well as increasing a focus on the tourismbased economy in Northern New Mexico.

OCCUPATION: Executive director, Taos Land Trust

OCCUPATION: Real estate broker, owner of Main Street Mercantile

PAUL ANTHONY MARTINEZ (R)

Two Republicans and two Democrats will compete for one of the most anticipated races of this election. Formerly held by Senator Roberto “Bobby” Gonzales for 25 years, the District 42 representative seat covers much of the population in Taos County. The district covers the eastern portion of the county and has nearly 30,000 constituents. The representative serves a two-year term. Mark Gallegos and Kristina Ortez have previously tried their hand at this position when it initially became available in 2019 following Gonzales’ move to the Senate. Both were defeated by Taos Mayor Dan Barrone, who has decided not to run to retain the seat. Republican candidates Linda Calhoun and Paul Anthony Martinez will try and secure a seat in Northern New Mexico which has belonged to Democrats for a number of years.

MARK GALLEGOS (D) AGE: 49 OCCUPATION: Selfemployed business owner EDUCATION: Some college POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Questa mayor, current Taos County commissioner, former Questa Village councilor CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No

uesta Mayor Mark Gallegos is no newcomer to public service and is looking to add one more term to his collection. As mayor of Questa, Gallegos is responsible for the well-being of the village of over 1,700 people north of Taos but he also serves his community as the county commissioner for District 2 on the Taos County Board of Commissioners. Gallegos was first elected to the Questa Village Council in 2004 and served until the community elected him mayor in 2014 where he currently serves in his second term. Taking on the state representative responsibility means that Gallegos would be looking at the best opportunities for District 42 to bring in revenue for much of Taos County. One revenue option is renewable energy. “In order for our state to bring in revenues using renewable energy, we have to evaluate what money is being made from solar and wind locations and possibly raising the tax on the owner or company who is leasing the land,” Gallegos said about renewable energy in the state. A solution to move New Mexico away from dependence on oil and gas revenues for the state’s general fund would be to focus on outdoor recre-

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ation activities which, according to Gallegos, bring in a good portion of the money around the state. While focusing on financial issues, Gallegos would also take some time to look at the devastation that substance abuse has had on the people of Taos County and will work to try and find a solution. “We don’t have the resources to support what has taken over some of our citizens,” Gallegos said. “In order to take on this task our state needs to continue to provide programs that not only treat [people] while in recovery, but post recovery.” Gallegos also runs a business in Questa at El Monte Carlo and is helping to rebuild the economy of the small town. Questa has been on the radar of a number of chain businesses, such as Dollar General and others, but Gallegos and his staff take careful consideration when deciding what fits in the town.

tural and environmental projects such as the revitalization of the wetlands of the Río Fernando watershed. Projects like this demonstrate Ortrez’ commitment to the environment and she hopes to help move New Mexico closer to renewable energy if elected. “New Mexico can achieve 100 percent carbon-free electricity generation by 2050 and we can do it with immediate economic benefits and job growth while at the same time reducing pollution and ensuring health benefits to our citizens,” Ortez said. Ortez has suggested closing off coalburning power plants and investing in more New Mexico-based renewable energy companies. In doing so, Ortez hopes to move New Mexico away from dependence on oil and gas. In addition to looking into alternative forms of energy, Ortez said the community could benefit from new business opportunities such as light manufacturing. However, in order to get there, the state must focus on infrastructure as well as affordable housing to hold the workers in new fields. As a mother of two, Ortez said she understands the value of a good education system and that she would advocate for a raise for those working to keep students on their path to learning. This would include custodians and other nonteaching staff at New Mexico schools. Ortez has recently been endorsed by U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich for her District 42 run.

EDUCATION: Master’s in public administration

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s of science in nursing

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Conservation advocate

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Red River mayor, former Red River town councilor, former New Mexico Municipal league president, North Central New Mexico Economic Development District board member

CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No

ristina Ortez may be green in the scene of politics, but when it comes to her community, she knows how to get work done. Currently working as the director of the Taos Land Trust, Ortez has overseen the completion of a number of agricul-

CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No

s the candidate in this race with the most political experience, Linda Calhoun will try and pull double duties if elected to the House seat.

OCCUPATION: Consultant, researcher, woodsman POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Ran for Questa School Board in 2013

id not submit questions. Did not answer phone call.

N.M. Senate District 6 Following the passing of Senator Carlos Cisneros in 2019, several candidates rose to the occasion to try and fill the District 6 vacancy. Ultimately, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham chose longtime representative Roberto “Bobby” Gonzales. Spanning four counties and 50,000 people, District 6 will be represented by Gonzales following the November election. Gonzales is no stranger to unopposed races, as he has been fortunate in the past to retain his representative seat.

ROBERTO “BOBBY” GONZALES (D) AGE: 69 OCCUPATION: Retired school administrator EDUCATION: M.A., school administration POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Current state senator, former state representative CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No

obert “Bobby” Gonzales often ran unopposed for his position as the District 42 representative in the state Legislature, and for his first run as a senator he will be doing the same. After 25 years as a representative in District 42, Gonzales chose to be considered for the Senate position. Gonzales was challenged by Taos Mayor Dan Barrone and Kristina Ortez for the position. Gonzales was appointed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to fill the seat of former longtime Sen. Carlos Cisneros, who passed away in 2019. Since

then, Gonzales has been hard at work in the Senate chair; he sponsored and introduced a number of bills for the 2020 legislative session. “The biggest issue at the present, for Senate District 6, is helping businesses restart following the state shelter-inplace (order),” Gonzales said. “It will require working closely with Gov. Lujan Grisham and other elected officials within the district.” Like other lawmakers, Gonzales is concerned with the current spread of COVID-19 and is hopeful of the state’s efforts to emerge from the pandemic quickly. In order to do this, Gonzales said the state needs to stick with the initiatives set down by the governor’s office and continue the social distancing practices. Gonzales spent decades in the classroom and takes his career as an educator into the Roundhouse when considering legislation. The Taos County native said New Mexico students need trained teachers, quality materials and a system based on constant academic improvement to see success

in the education realm. “Schools need to change the manner in which they deliver instruction,” Gonzales said. In order to assist this, Gonzles suggested universities in New Mexico change their teaching preparation programs in the future. Gonzales has been and remains an opponent of legal marijuana in the state of New Mexico but supports medical use with a doctor’s recommendation. “On the surface it looks like it would create an income source,” Gonzales said about recreational marijuana. “However, in reviewing other states with recreational cannabis it appears to have created more social and economic problems.” Senate District 6 covers parts of Taos, Río Arriba, Santa Fe and Los Alamos counties covering nearly 50,000 constituents. Within the district are Taos, Picuris, Pojoaque and Nambé Pueblos.

Mark

Gallegos

NM State Representative My 16 years in elected positions has given me the experience to help small businesses and families in Northern New Mexico.

Mayorr off Questa Quest ueestaa (2 (201 (2014-present) 0144-pr pres esen ent) t) aand nd Taos County Cou ount nty nt ty C Co Commissioner ommissioner for District 2 (2014-present) 4-pr 4pres esen ent) t))

Paid for by the committee to elect William E. Córdova, Treasurer Dr. Kathryn M. Córdova PRIMARY 2020

N.M. Senate District 8 Democratic senator Pete Campos has held the seat of District 8 since 1991 and will not be running again. The 48,000 constituents in the eastern New Mexico district will have Republican candidate Melissa Fryzel unopposed on the ballot for 2020. Fryzel will be the first Republican to hold the seat in decades and will have areas like Mora and Las Vegas to represent in her freshman session in Santa Fe.

U.S. House District 3 When current District 3 Rep. Ben Ray Luján decided to make a run for retiring Sen. Tom Udall’s seat in the Senate, a gaggle of would be replacements jumped into the race. The candidates to replace Luján are lawyers, a counselor, business owners and engineers.

known in Northern New Mexico through her work as an attorney. She’s received some heavy-hitting endorsements from Taos Pueblo and Jicarilla Apache, Emily’s List and Sierra Club. At the March 7 preprimary convention, Fernandez won nearly 42 percent of the delegate vote. She has worked for 30 years as an attorney, primarily representing tribes.

LAURA MONTOYA (D) MELISSA FRYZEL (R)

JOHN BLAIR (D)

AGE: 43

OCCUPATION: Deputy secretary of state

OCCUPATION: Data director and business analyst EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Legislative analyst, grassroots coordinator, secretary of Republican Party of New Mexico State Central Committee CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No

s one of the few Republican candidates this year in the Taos area, Melissa Fryzel is ready to get her feet wet in the political realm by taking the District 8 seat in the Senate. Fryzel is a political newcomer but has experience in the field by means of her work with the Republicn Party of New Mexico as the central committee secretary. With this experience in hand, Fryzel is hoping to make some changes along the way in her first term. “I am committed to see the economy of Northern New Mexico flourish,” Fryzel said. “As it stands now, many of our children must leave the state, in order to find good paying jobs. None of us want our children to have to leave New Mexico.” Fryzel plans to look at the potential business opportunities currently in the state as well as those which have left to possibly rebuild former avenues of commerce. According to Fryzel, small business is the backbone of the state’s economy. As a business analyst, Frysel wants to investigate ways to boost the state and local economy by means of small businesses and entrepreneurs. “We need to be looking at solutions to help our family and friends retain and grow what they have worked so hard for,” she said. Energy is another sector in which Fryzel said New Mexico can improve on and bring in creative forms of revenue. Fryzel wants to establish a smooth transition into alternative fuels rather than just closing the fossil fuel industry outright. Fryzel said the “all or nothing” approach to energy policies leads to bipartisan divide in the state. Fryzel is running unopposed for her first election and will be voted in following the primary election. With no opposition, Fryzel can begin looking into plans and strategies for her freshman term in Santa Fe.

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EDUCATION: B.A. in communication studies at University of Kansas; J.D. at University of New Mexico School of Law POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Department of Interior under former President Barack Obama and is deputy secretary of state for Maggie Toulouse Oliver.

OCCUPATION: Sandoval County treasurer EDUCATION: Bachelor’s in political science and psychology at New Mexico Highlands University; master’s in public affairs at NMSU POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Elected Sandoval County treasurer in 2012; served as Constituent Services Representative for U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman.

CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No

WEBSITE/SOCIAL MEDIA: johnblairfornewmexico.com

WEBSITE: lauramontoya4nm.com/press

ohn Blair is a native New Mexican and a Santa Fe High graduate with a long background in government affairs and policy. On his website, Blair said he wants to reverse the Republican tax plan, raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour and won’t accept special interest PAC money. He has worked for elected officials at both the state and federal level.

aura Montoya also hails from the northern parts of the state, raised in Las Vegas and Mora. “How I was raised, where I grew up and my experience make me look at service in a different light,” said Montoya at the state preprimary convention where she took 20 percent of the delegate vote. She’s worked in the state Legislature. She is the only county clerk appointed to serve on the New Mexico Tax Policy Committee.

TERESA LEGER FERNANDEZ (D)

VALERIE PLAME (D) OCCUPATION: Former CIA operative

OCCUPATION: Attorney EDUCATION: B.A. from Yale University; J.D. from Stanford University POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Appointed to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation by former President Bill Clinton; commissioner on Las Acequias de Chupadero, commissioner on ABA Commission on Women CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No WEBSITE/SOCIAL MEDIA: teresaforall.com

orn and raised in Las Vegas, N.M., Teresa Leger Fernandez is well

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s from Pennsylvania State University; graduate degree from London School of Economics POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Campaigned on behalf of Democratic party candidates CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No WEBSITE: valerieplameforcongress.com

aughter of an Air Force officer, Valerie Plame was born at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska,

and moved to New Mexico in 2007. In between, she spent a career working at the CIA, managing covert programs to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, according to her website and “responsible for decision-making at senior levels, recruiting foreign assets, managing multimillion dollar budgets, briefing U.S. policy-makers and demonstrating consistently solid judgment in a field where mistakes could prove disastrous.” Her CIA career ended when her role as a spy was revealed by a prior Republican White House administration, which was detailed in her memoir “Fair Game.”

JOSEPH SANCHEZ (D) OCCUPATION: Electrical engineer, Engineering Services Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory EDUCATION: B.S. in electrical engineering from University of New Mexico; master’s in electrical engineering, University of New Mexico and master’s in business administration from New Mexico State University

MARCO SERNA (D) OCCUPATION: 1st Judicial district attorney EDUCATION: Bachelor’s in criminal justice from University of Arizona; J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law

KAREN E. BEDONIE (R)

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Elected as 1st Judicial district attorney in Santa Fe, Los Alamos and Río Arriba

OCCUPATION: Entrepreneur/small business owner

CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No

EDUCATION: Not listed on website

WEBSITE/SOCIAL MEDIA: marcoforcongress.com

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

WEBSITE/SOCIAL MEDIA: karenbedonie.com

graduate of St. Michael’s High School, Marco Serna prosecuted Medicaid fraud and elder abuse cases as a New Mexico assistant attorney general before being elected as DA. He also worked as an assistant DA in Valencia and Sandoval counties. Three women have filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against Serna claiming wage theft, according to an April 15 story in the Santa Fe New Mexican. A spokesman for Serna said he could not comment on pending litigation.

KYLE TISDEL (D)

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Elected NM Representative, District 40

OCCUPATION: Environmental attorney for nonprofit Western Environmental Law Center

CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No WEBSITE: josephsanchezforcongress.com

oseph Sanchez is serving in his first term as a state representative and is vice chair of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee. He was born and raised in the tiny farming community of Alcalde. He has years of experience working in the construction and operation of nuclear facilities for waste and research. He’s also the former CEO of Jemez Mountains Electrical Cooperative.

ture, boosting renewable energy and providing a livable wage for workers. He has worked with the Western Environmental Law Center since 2011.

s a member of the Navajo Nation, Karen Bedonie is hoping to become the first Native American Republican elected to the House of Representatives from New Mexico. According to her website she has been a certified welder, a framer, construction coordinator, construction manager, kitchen interior designer and sous chef. Bedonie is a strong supporter of Second Amendment rights in the U.S. and feels that a history of Democratic leadership in New Mexico must be reexamined in order for business and education to thrive. “Socialism is a failed experiment by the Democrats that have been in practice on Native American Indian reservations since their inception,” says Bedonie’s website.

OCCUPATION: Counselor EDUCATION: Master of Arts in counseling psychology POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Ran for the 3rd Congressional District in 2008 and 2012 against Ben Ray Luján. CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No WEBSITE/SOCIAL MEDIA: harrymontoya.com

s a former Democrat, Harry Montoya is hoping to bring a pro-life, pro-freedom of religion and pro-second amendment agenda to the table for the 2020 primary. Montoya was raised in the Pojoaque Valley. Counseling work has brought Montoya a lifelong dedication to those suffering from substance abuse in the state.

ANGELA GALE MORALES (R) (WRITE-IN) OCCUPATION: Unknown

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No WEBSITE/SOCIAL MEDIA: tisdelforcongress.com

HARRY MONTOYA (R)

CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No

EDUCATION: B.A. in international relations from Michigan State University; J.D. from Vermont Law School

yle Tisdel has devoted his legal career to fighting for the environment and underserved communities. Among his victories, Tisdel represented environmental and Diné organizations in a fight against oil and gas development on 20,000 acres in the Santa Fe National Forest and won protection for the land, according to his website. His platform in part centers around building a green economy and infrastruc-

Hailing from the southern part of the state, this native New Mexican and cattle rancher graduated from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology and spent time as a gas and oil consultant. In addition, Johnson hopes to fight to preserve pro-life efforts across the state and wants to improve the immigration system.

ALEXIS JOHNSON (R)

EDUCATION: Unknown

OCCUPATION: Former oil and gas consultant, environmental engineer

CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None WEBSITE: None found or listed

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No WEBSITE/SOCIAL MEDIA: alexisjohnsonnm.com

lexis Johnson is hoping to bring conservative and family values to the house race in 2020. PRIMARY 2020

United States Senate

N.M. Public Education Commission

The contested race for one of New Mexico’s two U.S. Senate seats came about after longtime Sen. Tom Udall decided not to run for reelection. Udall has held the seat since 2008.

Among the lesser known election races this year is for half of the 10 seats on the Public Education Commission, which authorizes state chartered schools in New Mexico. The commission has so far authorized 50 state charter schools. Commissioners are elected to serve four-year staggered terms and must be residents from the district they serve. No one officially submitted their names for the District 10 commission seat that encompasses Taos County, but three people are running as write-in candidates.

BEN RAY LUJÁN (D) CONTACT: info@ benraylujan.com OCCUPATION: Representative, U.S. Congress

director, Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development, U.S. Department of the Interior; director, Office of Self-Governance, U.S. Department of the Interior WEBSITE: gavinclarkson.comw

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: U.S. Congress, 3rd District (12 years), chair, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (2015-2019), New Mexico Public Regulation Commission

STEVEN J. CARRILLO (D) ELISA MARIA MARTINEZ (R)

CONTACT: (505) 501-3570; steven.carrillo@ comcast.net

CONTACT: elisa@ elisafornm.com

AGE: 60

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s in business administration, New Mexico Highlands University

OCCUPATION: Founder/director, New Mexico Alliance for Life

WEBSITE: lujan.house.gov Ben Ray Lujan is assistant speaker in the 116th Congress.

EDUCATION: B.A., University of New Mexico

BOB WALSH (LIB) CONTACT: walshb@ cybermesa.com OCCUPATION: Mathematician (retired) EDUCATION: B.S., California Institute of Technology; M.S., San Diego State University; M.S., University of New Mexico WEBSITE: facebook.com/BobForNM/

GAVIN S. CLARKSON (R) CONTACT: info@gavin. clarkson.com OCCUPATION: Energy consultant, government official EDUCATION: B.A., Rice University; M.B.A., Rice University; J.D., Harvard Law School; Ph.D., Harvard Business School RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: Deputy assistant secretary of the interior: Policy and Economic Development – Indian Affairs;

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RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: Field representative, Libre Initiative; consultant, Congressional Select Panel on Infant Lives

OCCUPATION: Financial services RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: Santa Fe Public Schools Board of Education (8 years) RESIDENCE: Santa Fe (since 1991) EDUCATION: B.A., Loyola Marymount University CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No

WEBSITE: elisafornm.com

WILLIAM LUTHER HUMBERT (D) CONTACT: billhumbert@att.net

MARK V. RONCHETTI (R) CONTACT: info@ markronchetti.com OCCUPATION: Meteorologist

AGE: 76 OCCUPATION: Retired RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: Educator/ administrator in Texas public schools and universities (45 years); Angel Fire City Council (2 years)

EDUCATION: B.A., Washington State University

RESIDENCE: Angel Fire (since 2014)

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: TV newsman, weatherman and journalist

CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No

EDUCATION: Ph.D., Texas A&M University at Commerce

WEBSITE: markronchetti.com LEANNE C. SALAZAR (D) AGE: 41 OCCUPATION: Educational consultant RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: Educator/ administrator, researcher (18 years) RESIDENCE: Medanales, New Mexico EDUCATION: Ph.D., New Mexico State University CONVICTED OF A CRIME/FELONY: No

The Endorsements

Congressional, State and Taos County Candidates Find the endorsements in the May 8th edition PRIMARY 2020

Paul V. Sanchez for DA Paul V. Sanchez for DA

“I WON’T LET VIOLENT FELONS LIKE RAFAEL OROZCO WALK!” Hundreds of felony FELONS prosecutionsLIKE RAFAEL OROZCO WALK!” “I WON’T• LET VIOLENT • • • • • • • • •

Former Chief Deputy District Attorney here in the Eighth Hundreds of felony prosecutions 17 years with the NM State Police, including command position Former Chief Deputy District Attorney here in the Eighth State-certified to train police in building strong cases 17 years with the NM State Police, including command position U.S. Marine Corps State-certified to train police in building strong cases U.S. Marine Corps

PAUL HAS THE EXPERIENCE TO FIX A BROKEN SYSTEM. PAUL HAS THE EXPERIENCE TO FIX A BROKEN SYSTEM.

Paul is the clear choice to protect our homes, and to our way ofour life.homes, Paul is our the families, clear choice protect Paid Political Advertisement. Paid for by The Committee To Elect Paul Sanchez DA, Stephanie Madrid, Treasurer our families, and our way of life.

PRIMARY 2020

Paid Political Advertisement. Paid for by The Committee To Elect Paul Sanchez DA, Stephanie Madrid, Treasurer