Your guide to what's on the Otero County Election 2022 ballot, where to vote on Nov. 8

Nicole Maxwell, Alamogordo Daily News
·4 min read

Election Day is here.

The ballot has several local officials up for election in Otero County, and three New Mexico Constitutional amendments and three General Obligation Bond questions.

More:When does early voting in New Mexico start? Your voters guide to Otero County elections

Candidates on the 2022 General Election Ballot, listed by their listing on the ballot as reported by the New Mexico Secretary of State's Office:

What's on the ballot?

U.S. Representative-District 2:

  • Yvette Herrell, Republican

  • Gabriel Vasquez, Democrat

  • Eliseo Luna, Democrat (Write-In)

Governor/Lt. Governor

  • Karen Evette Bedonie/Efren Gallardo, Jr., Libertarian

  • Mark Ronchetti/Ant Thorton, Republican

  • Michelle Lujan Grisham/Howie Morales, Democrat

New Mexico Secretary of State

  • Maggie Toulouse Oliver, Democrat

  • Audrey Trujillo, Republican

  • Mayna Erica Myers, Libertarian

New Mexico Attorney General

  • Raul Torres, Democrat

  • Jeremy Michael Gay, Republican

New Mexico State Auditor

  • Joseph Maestas, Democrat

  • Travis Steven Sanchez, Libertarian

New Mexico State Treasurer

  • Harry Montoya, Republican

  • Layra Montoya, Democrat

Commissioner of Public Lands

  • Jefferson Byrd, Republican

  • Stephanie Garcia Richard, Democrat

  • Larry E. Marker, Decline To State (write-in)

A Vote Here sign at the Otero County Fairgrounds directs voters where to go to cast their ballot.
A Vote Here sign at the Otero County Fairgrounds directs voters where to go to cast their ballot.

State Representative District 51

New Mexico 12th Judicial District Judge-Division 2

  • Ellen Jessen, Republican

Magistrate Judge-Division 1

  • John Robinson Secrest, III, Republican

  • Warren Robinson, Democrat

Magistrate Judge-Division 2

  • Claudia Powell, Democrat

  • Michael Ryan Suggs, Republican

Otero County Commission-District 1

Otero County Commission-District 2

Otero County Sheriff

  • David Black, Republican

Otero County Assessor

  • James Bowman, Republican

Otero County Probate Judge

  • LaTanya Boyce, Republican

Voters fill in their ballots at the Otero County Fairgrounds on June 7, 2022.
Voters fill in their ballots at the Otero County Fairgrounds on June 7, 2022.

New Mexico Constitutional Amendments and General Obligation Bonds

Constitutional Amendment 1: To provide for additional annual distributions of the permanent school fund for enhanced instruction for students at risk of failure, extending the school year, teacher compensation and early childhood education; requiring congressional approval for distributions for early childhood education.

This amendment takes money from the permanent school fund which is part of the Land Grant Permanent Funds.

The Land Grant Permanent Funds were established as part of the New Mexico Constitution in 1910 by an act of Congress.

This amendment came from House Joint Resolution 1 in thte 2021 New Mexico Legislature's first session.

Constitutional Amendment 2: To allow public investment to provide access to essential household services, including internet, energy, water, wastewater and other similar services as provided by law, upon the enactment of general implementing legislation by a majority vote of the members elected to each house of the legislature.

This amendment updates the New Mexico Anti-Donation Law to allow state and local goverrnmental entities to allow state funds or resources to be used to provide residential essential services.

This amendment came from House Joint Resolution 1 from the 2022 New Mexico Legislature's second session.

Constitutional Amendment 3: To provide that an appointed judge serve at least one year before a general election is held for the office to which the judge was appointed.

This amendment came from Senate Joint Resolution 3 from the 2022 New Mexico Legislature's second session.

General Obligation Bond Question 1: This General Obligation Bond asks that $24,470,000 be used to improve senior citizens facilities. This will be paid for by property taxes which may include a property tak hike should the bond be approved.

General Obligation Bond Question 2: This General Obligation Bond asks that $19,266,000 be used for school library acquisitions. This will be paid for by property taxes which may include a property tak hike should the bond be approved.

General Obligation Bond Question 3: This General Obligation Bond asks that $215,986,000 be used for capital improvements at higher learning institutions, special schools and tribal schools. This will be paid for by property taxes which may include a property tak hike should the bond be approved.

Projects that will benefit from this bond's success include the proposed Center for Collaborative Arts, proposed New Children's Psychiatric Center and the University of New Mexico-Valencia roof replacement and solar installations.

Election Day Voting Convenience Center Locations

Otero County Voter Convenience Centers are:

  • Sgt. Willie Estrada Memorial Civic Center, 800 East First Street in Alamogordo

  • Tays Special Events Center, 2235 North Scenic Drive in Alamogordo

  • Otero County Fairgrounds, 401 Fairgrounds Road in Alamogordo

  • Tularosa Public Safety Facility Courtroom, 609 St. Francis Drive in Tularosa

  • Chaparral Community Center, 472 Ace Ryan Street in Chaparral

  • La Luz Elementary School, 99 Alamo Street in La Luz

  • Mescalero Community Center, 101 Central Avenue in Mescalero

  • Cloudcroft Council Chambers, 201 Burro Avenue in Cloudcroft

  • James Canyon Fire Station, 2346 U.S. Highway 82 in Cloudcroft

  • Mayhill Community Center, 11 Civic Centre Drive in Mayhill

  • Weed Fire Station, 32 Agua Chiquita in Weed

  • Piñon Fire Station, 4538 Owen Prather Highway in Piñon

  • Timberon Lodge, 1 Bobwhite Avenue in Timberon

  • Boles Acres Fire Station, 10 Sage Avenue in Boles Acres

  • Burro Flats Fire Station, 556 Laborcita Canyon Road in La Luz

  • High Rolls Fire Station, 39 Old Railroad Drive in High Rolls

Polls close at 7 p.m. Nov. 8.

For more information about Election Day voting or to check your voter registration, visit the Otero County Clerk's Office website at www.co.otero.nm.us/225/Clerk or call the Otero County Clerk's Office at 575-437-4942.

Nicole Maxwell can be contacted by email at nmaxwell@alamogordonews.com, by phone at 575-415-6605 or on Twitter at @nicmaxreporter.

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This article originally appeared on Alamogordo Daily News: When does early voting start in N.M.? Your Otero County election guide