Megan Bowen and Kelly Calicoat win Eddy County Magistrate races in Tuesday primary
Megan Bowen will oversee cases in Eddy County Magistrate Court Division Two in 2023.
She defeated challenger Monica Martinez-Jones in Tuesday's Eddy County Republican Primary.
Unofficial vote totals had Bowen with 1,165 votes and Martinez-Jones with 519 votes.
Bowen replaces Richard Van Dyk in January. He was appointed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in February of this year to fill out the remainder of D’Ann Read’s term.
She resigned at the end of 2021 said Barry Massey, spokesperson for the New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts.
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Comments sought by Bowen were not returned to the Current-Argus.
In a Facebook post, Bowen said she had a degree in criminal justice and worked in the legal field for over 13 years assisting in criminal prosecution, criminal legal defense, civil actions and victims services.
"I believe that my work experience and history of working with the court system gives me an invaluable insight into what it takes to get the job done as a magistrate court judge. I spent over seven years working at the Fifth Judicial District Attorneys’ office," read her Facebook post.
"Since 2017, I have served as a volunteer mentor and Judge for our youth involved in the Eddy County Teen Court program. This program is part of Eddy County’s Anti-Drug and Coalition," per the Facebook post.
Martinez-Jones campaigned in Carlsbad and Artesia weeks before Tuesday’s election.
“After retiring from Law enforcement three years ago, I missed serving my community. When I learned about the retirement of Judge D’Ann Read, I decided this would be my chance once again to serve Eddy County,” she said.
Martinez-Jones served with the New Mexico State Police and the Artesia Police Department.
“I learned from speaking with people who are directly involved in the court system that a backlog has caused some people to slip through the cracks, so to speak, as well as officers not getting served subpoenas and missing court dates,” she said.
Magistrate Division One incumbent Kelly Calicoat was elected to a second term Tuesday.
He defeated former Eddy County Detention Center Officer Toby Austin 390 to 179 according to unofficial results.
Calicoat has no Democratic opposition in November and the Magistrate seats were the only contested races on Tuesday's ballot.
“I tried to campaign every weekend by either posting signs or talking to the community,” Austin said.
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“To some people I did talk to about becoming a judge they stated it takes a lot for someone with a lot of courage to be running for Magistrate Judge. One had stated that the court needed someone that is strong and will guide the court in the right direction,” he said.
Austin said Eddy County Magistrate Court dealt with a back log of cases before COVID-19 and COVID-19.
"I commend my opponent for a clean race," Calicoat said. "I announced to him (Austin) if this is his ambition (seeking elected office) to continue on."
Calicoat said long court dockets and long days await all three Eddy County Magistrates in the coming months.
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Eddy County Division Three Magistrate Jimmy Foster Jr. did not have a Republican opponent Tuesday and has no Democratic challenger in November.
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.
Jessica Onsurez can be reached at jonsurez@gannett.com, @JussGREAT on Twitter at by phone at 575-628-5531.
This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Eddy County primary election results for magistrate court judge seats
