Filing day set Tuesday for March 5 election

Jan. 6—Mike Morris said last week he wants four more years as Clovis' mayor. He's expected to sign up for the job on Tuesday, and he may have some competition.

Misty Ponce, a regional manager for the Girl Scouts, said Saturday morning she is "thinking about" joining the race.

"Right now I'm just doing research so I can communicate the experience to the girls and hopefully get them involved in it," she said.

Ponce said she has no issues with the job Morris has done. "Absolutely not. He's done a great job these last four years," she said.

"When I was little, my grandpa and my parents told me I could do anything I wanted. I said I want to be president of the United States some day. Looking at the world today, I don't want to do that anymore. I just want to make the community a better place for my daughter and all the kids in the community."

Filing day for the mayor's job and five open positions on the Clovis city commission will end at 5 p.m. Tuesday when City Hall closes. Election Day is March 5.

District 1 City Commissioner George Jones, District 4 Commissioner Chris Bryant and District 3 Commissioner Debbie Zamora have all expressed plans to seek the office they hold now for four more years.

District 2 Commissioner Lauren Rowley has said she does not plan to seek re-election, while District 3 Commissioner Helen Casaus said she is "still debating" whether she wants to run again. Casaus said she will decide Monday.

Casaus' term is for four years, while Zamora was appointed late last year to succeed David Bryant who resigned mid-term. The March winner of the seat now held by Zamora will be expected to serve two years.

Douglas Pettigrew and Christopher Davis both applied for David Bryant's open seat when Zamora was appointed by the Commission and both said they planned to run in the March election. Pettigrew said Thursday he likely won't run; Davis could not be reached for comment.

With Rowley out, at least two potential successors have said they plan to run — Gail Tarson and Victoria Robledo.

Tarson describes herself as a "conservative small-business owner who enjoys community involvement."

Robledo said she is the wife of a Marine veteran, mother of two boys and a reproductive rights activist.

Josefita Griego said she will run against Chris Bryant in District 4. In a Facebook post announcing her candidacy she described herself as a "lifelong resident of Clovis" and "an advocate of our community for many years."

Morris is the only candidate besides Ponce who has publicly announced plans to seek the mayor's post.

"I want to see people in Clovis have every opportunity to lead prosperous, healthy and productive lives," he said in a Facebook video. "And I think it is so important that we do the work now to ensure that those opportunities get even better for the next generation. That's my vision."

City Clerk LeighAnn Melancon said early voting will begin Feb. 6 for the municipal election. Write-in candidates can sign up Jan. 16.

The mayor's job pays $8,000 per year while commissioners are paid $7,000 per year, Melancon said.

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