Q&A: Clovis' clerk, finance director talks elections
Jan. 2—Editor's note: This is one in a continuing series of interviews with local officials. LeighAnn Melancon is the city of Clovis' finance director and city clerk. She answered questions about the upcoming city of Clovis election.
Q: Clovis is one of the few communities in New Mexico that did not elect city representatives in November. Explain why Clovis is different.
A: In 2019 during the regular New Mexico legislative session, House Bill 407, which is known as the election laws 50 years tune-up, was introduced and passed.
That established the regular local election, which was for municipalities and was the election we just had in November.
As part of that, a home-rule community, or any community, could choose to opt-in to be a part of the regular local election, which is run by the county clerk.
If you don't opt in then you still have what is known as the municipal officer election, and that is the one in March.
There are now 13 of the 106 municipalities that still follow the MOE in March. It is decided by the city commission.
Several years ago, by a charter question, we adopted the photo ID requirement, and you could not have a photo ID as part of the regular local election. You can't say, "Oh well you are doing this, so for this part, I have to see your photo ID, but for this part you don't."
So, our city commission believes that the people voted for photo ID, so we will continue to run municipal officer election and it is also to have local control.
Q: When is Clovis' municipal election and what day can candidates sign up?
A: The election is March 5. Candidate filing date is Jan. 9, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at City Hall in the Finance Department.
Q: What positions are open?
A: We have the mayor, who will be elected at large by all the citizens.
District 1 — four-year term for commissioner.
District 2 — four-year term for commissioner.
In District 3 we are going to have two positions, one of them is a two-year term to complete the one that Commissioner David Bryant resigned from, and then a four-year term.
District 4 will also have a four-year term.
Q: Anything on the ballot besides candidates?
A: There is nothing else on the ballot.
Q: Can voters register as late as Election Day? Or when is the deadline to register to vote in the Clovis municipal election?
A: The last date to register in person at the county clerk's office is Feb. 6, but in most all the various election rules we now have same-day registration.
So, you can do same-day registration during early voting, and this will be our first year also doing same-day voter registration on Election Day.
Q: For those interested in running for city office, what is the process for signing up? Is there a fee?
A: It is based on their voter registration as of Dec. 6. That was the date of the proclamation. Say on Dec. 6 they lived at 123 Main, which was District 2, so District 2, if they were running for commissioner would be what they would sign up for.
If they forgot, maybe they moved six months ago, and they never thought to change their voter registration, the voter registration as of Dec. 6 determines their eligibility to run and where they can run.
There is also a candidate filing form that you can find either on the New Mexico secretary of state's website, we have packets in our office that contain those forms, and we also have the packet on the (city) website.
You fill out the form, if you have somebody to notarize it for you, you can go ahead and bring it in notarized. Otherwise, don't sign it and we will notarize it when you come into vote.
There is no fee, and should something happen, and somebody knows that they have to be out of town on Jan. 9, there is also a form that they can fill out and they can have somebody come in and file that form for them.
Q: Will there be write-in candidates?
A: Those candidates can sign up Jan. 16. There is a form.
Q: When will early voting begin? And where are polling places?
A: Early voting begins on Feb. 6 to March 2 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, at City Hall in the Finance Department. And then beginning Feb. 17, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. we will have an alternate site at the North Plains Mall.
As soon as we know which location in the mall we will be using, we will be sure that it gets posted.
City Hall will also be open on March 2 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. We are closed on Feb. 17 for the holiday.
Q: And where are polling places on Election Day?
A: Polling places on Election Day are Colonial Golf Course in the Ballroom, Trinity Methodist Church on 21st street, Roy Walker Community Center, Youth Recreation Building on Seventh and Sycamore, and then the Fire Station 5 on Brady.
If a person wishes to get an absentee ballot, they just call the Finance Department, or they can go onto the New Mexico secretary of state's website and request one.
Q: What are the salaries for the positions on the ballot?
A: The mayor is $8,000 per year and the commissioners are $7,000 per year.
Q: Finally, how can we get more information about the municipal election?
A: We do have a municipal officer candidate packet on the city website, and it provides information on all the forms, all the dates.
We also provide some information about the city budget, the personnel payroll, people can see what positions we have, information about the charter is on there and the duties that they do. Pretty much anything I can think of that somebody who is interested would need.
And of course, they could always give me a call and I would be happy to answer any of their questions.
City website is:
City Hall is at:
321 N. Connelly St.
Clovis, NM 88102
Phone: 575-769-7827
Fax: 575-763-9316
Email: finance@cityofclovis.org
