Republican Amy Barela defeats Democrat Stephanie DuBois for Otero Commission District 2 seat

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's appointee to the Otero County Commission District 2 seat Democrat Stephanie DuBois, was defeated in the Nov. 8 general election by Republican Amy Barela.

According to unofficial results reported to the New Mexico Secretary of State, Barela received 63 percent of the 5,164 votes cast in the election. DuBois received just 37 percent - 1,898 votes.

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

"I want to thank everyone that came out and supported me, that helped me through this process," Barela told the Alamogordo Daily News.

"It's very humbling after the election occurs and what the outcome is is what the constituents want."

Barela said she was proud to have been elected to the position and planned to focus on policy that could unite the County, as well as promote its growth.

DuBois was appointed to the Otero County Commission by Lujan Grisham just weeks ago to the vacancy created by the removal of Couy Griffin. With Barela's election, DuBois will serve in that seat only until Dec. 31.

Incumbent Commissioner for District 1 Gerald Matherly, who was unopposed in the race, was reelected to the seat with 3,397 votes.

According to the Secretary of State, there are 37,638 registered voters in the County.

Data from the Secretary of State indicated that as of 6 p.m. Nov. 8 - one hour before voting locations closed - 15,055 voters had cast ballots. Of those, 8,617 were and 4,144 Democrats. Data showed that in Otero County a little over half - 8,041 voters - chose to cast a ballot in person.

Unopposed Republicans to lead Otero County

Unofficial results from the Otero County Clerk showed several Republicans seeking county seats were elected to office.

Sheriff David Black will serve another term, receiving 13,594 votes in the general election.

James Bowman was elected county assessor with 13,435 votes, and Latanya Boyce was elected probate Judge with 13,313 votes.

Jessen unopposed in District Court Division 2 race

Ellen Jessen was unopposed in the Nov. 8 general election.

She defeated James Dickens in the primary to hold the seat she was appointed to in July 2020.

Jessen is the third judge to preside over that court since 1979, according to a statement emailed to the Ruidoso News.

" Robert M. Doughty, II presided over Division II from 1979 until 1999, followed by James Waylon Counts who presided over Division II until he retired from the bench in 2020," the statement read.

"Judge Jessen holds her predecessors in the highest esteem and will strive to carry on their tradition of excellence."

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Barela defeats DuBois for Otero Commission District 2 seat