Two contested races for Luna County Board of Commissioners in New Mexico Primary Election

DEMING – Luna County voters will choose from two contested races during Tuesday’s Primary Election. Democratic candidates Ray Trejo and David McSherry are challenging for the District 1 seat on the Luna County Board of Commissioners. The District 2 seat will be a choice between Republican candidates Collette Chandler and Premal Patel. Patel was not available for interview by Thursday’s deadline. His interview will appear online before the Primary.

Three candidates have filed for the Luna County Board of Commissioner District 1 seat. Incumbent Barbara Reedy will run alone on the Republican ticket.

McSherry is a career engineer who managed farming and ranching for his father G.X. McSherry. G.X. served New Mexico as a state representative for 16 years.

He is a 1975 graduate of Deming High School and has been in the farming and cattle industry for 35 years. McSherry said he left the farm in 2016 with the City of Deming as an engineer. He has his bachelor’s and master’s from New Mexico State University in Engineering.

McSherry spent time on the Deming Public Schools Board of Education and as a Luna County Manager before returning to the City of Deming. “I enjoyed my time on the school board,” McSherry said. “We did a lot of good things with some good people on that board. I was fortunate to have worked with Tony Sayre, Bob Orosco and Ruben Torres. We were able to get Bataan Elementary build, renovate Memorial Elementary and continue our work on Red Mountain Middle School, Ruben S. Torres Elementary and Columbus. We also laid the groundwork for the new Deming High School.”

McSherry, 65, noted his experience in city and county government have given him insight to what he can bring to the county as a commissioner.

“Systems Engineering ties into supply and demand, and this involves stakeholders,” he said. “The decision-making process needs all parties to work together for a common goal. It’s about getting people to sit down and find common ground toward goals.

“Once we realize that we all want something similar and we can get past ego and bluster in politics, we will find out what we need to do and get it done.”

Trejo has spent 28 years in education and left the career as an assistant superintendent for the Deming Public Schools.

He is a 1981 DHS graduate and has his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Education and Leadership Administration from Western New Mexico University in Silver City. He began his teaching career as a bilingual instructor.

Trejo, 59, has filled many roles in education as an assistant principal, principal, and Director of Transportation. “The 10 years spent in bilingual (English as a Second Language) program gave me great pleasure. The kids who came across the border valued education and it was evident in their work,” Trejo said.

Trejo said he is proud of the work he did on establishing Deming Cesar Chavez as a charter high school. He served as principal at one time. “This gave students every opportunity to achieve and excel,” he added.

The career path lends itself to a county government position base on Trejo’s background in education. “I can put skills to use for the county,” he said. “I like to work with teams collaboratively to get things done.”

Trejo works closely with legislators at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe and with state agencies, the BLM, state land office and nonprofits. His work with nonprofits put in in a position to manage the asylum seekers of 2019. He was appointed by the county and city to shelter, clothe, feed and process over 31,000 migrants who passed through Deming.

“Having a grant writer is a must for the county,” Trejo said. “There are state and federal tourism dollars the county is leaving on the table through a division of outdoor recreation We should be working with them to boost our tourism and the economy.”

Infrastructure is a constant in Luna County and Trejo says he has his finger on the pulse. “We can gain support within the county departments and look at the work that needs to get done based on priority,” he said.

“I am a big believer in professional development,” Trejo said. “I believe in giving opportunities to staff and watch them continue to grow.

Chandler brings 20 years of experience as a businesswoman in Deming and Luna County. The Oregon native has lived in Luna County for the past 27 years. She says transparency in government, economic growth and jobs are important to her bid for Luna County Commission District 2.

Chandler began to realize she could have an impact in Luna County government. “Once the kids were grown, I became aware of what the issues were in our community,” she said. While working for a firm in Albuquerque to help with land purchases, she became aware of how much residents did not know what their government was doing.

“We need to bring change to Luna County,” Chandler said. “Deming and Columbus are great towns and have a lot to offer. The county can move toward economic development and help small businesses thrive. Transparency in government would open channels for the public and job growth is sorely needed.”

Chandler worked on bringing nine businesses to Tularosa and seven of them are still in business.

Chandler is keeping an eye on water issues for the agriculture communities in Luna County and neighboring communities. Decisions up north by legislators will have an impact down the road. Chandler wants Luna County to have a voice.

“It is important to build coalitions with neighboring counties and other county managers to tackle some things like water issues,” she said.

Chandler wants to be an open book as your District 2 board member. “We live in this community and we want what’s best for our town and its people,” she said. “You need to speak up and ask what is going on in your county government.”

Incumbent Candie Sweetser (D-Deming) will run unchallenged in the primary and seek a fourth term as District 32 State Representative. The district covers Grant, Hidalgo, and Luna counties. Sweetser was elected in 2016 and took office in January of 2017.

On the Republican side, Jenifer Jones has filed for candidacy in District 32 and is unopposed.

Luna County Magistrate Court Judge Ray Baese has termed out after 16 years on the bench. Edna M. Reyes has filed for the bench on the Democratic ticket and J. Scott Chandler has filled the Republican ticket for the magistrate bench. Chandler previously ran for State Representative (Dist. 32) in 2020.

Linda Smrkovsky’s District 2 seat on the Luna County Board of Commissioners will be up for grabs. Rebecca L. Lescombes is the lone Libertarian candidate, and she will seek the District 2 seat on the board.

Patel and Chandler will seek your vote on the Republican said.

Luna County Sheriff Kelly Gannaway (D) will seek a second full term while Mike Eby, a former candidate for the post, will fill the Republican spot on the primary ballot.

Michelle Martinez-Holguin (D) is seeking a second term at the Luna County Assessor.

Diane M. May-Diaz will seek the county probate judgeship on the Democratic ticket.

Voting for the June 7, 2022 Primary Election will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Luna County at three convenience centers located at the Mimbres Valley Learning Center, 2400 E. Pine St., the Holy Family Catholic Church Parish Hall, 615 S. Copper St. and at the Columbus Public Library in Columbus, NM, 112 W. Broadway.

Bill Armendariz can be reached at 575-494-5059 or biarmendariz@demingheadlight.com.

This article originally appeared on Deming Headlight: Luna County Board of Commissioners races in N.M. primary election