Voters get ready. It’s time for your voices to again be heard. Tuesday, March 1 is the day that the New Mexico Secretary of State (NMSOS) has set aside for Municipal Officer elections. Both the cities of Lovington and Hobbs will elect new city commissioners and municipal judges on this day.
According to NMSOS Maggie Toulouse Oliver, the March 1 election is for municipalities that did not “opt-in” to what is known as the “Regular Local Election“.
Lovington and Hobbs Positions to be Filled on March 1
Lovington will elect two City Commissioners, one from District 3 and the other from District 5, as well as a Municipal Judge.
Hobbs will elect City Commissioners from Districts 1, 4, 5 and 6 and one Municipal Judge.
Who Are the Candidates?
According to the Proclamation available in both English and Spanish and issued by NMSOS Oliver, the filing date for Declarations of Candidacy for the Municipal Officer Election was between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, on Tuesday January 4.
Lovington
Lovington City Clerk Shannon Lester has released the list (PDF) in ballot order of the names of candidates who will appear on the March 1 ballot in Lovington.
Candidates for City Commissioner District 3:
- Bernard Eugene Butcher
- Howard Doyle Roberts
Candidates for City Commissioner District 5:
- Lizabeth L. White
Candidates for Municipal Judge:
- Barbara Gray Campbell
Butcher, who is opposed by Roberts, is the current District 3 Commissioner. White is running unopposed. Paul Campos had served the city of Lovington as District 5 commissioner until his death on January 8, 2022. Judge Campbell is running unopposed for re-election.
Hobbs
Hobbs City Clerk Jan Fletcher has posted at the city’s website the list in ballot order of individuals who filed on January 4 as candidates for open positions in Hobbs.
Commissioner District 1 (two-year term)
- R. Finn Smith
Commissioner District 4 (four-year term)
- Debra Jean Brady
- Joseph D. Calderon
Commissioner District 5 (four-year term)
- Roy Dwayne Penick
Commissioner District 6 (four-year term)
- Donald Ray Gerth
Municipal Judge (four-year term)
- Bobby M. Arther
Smith, Penick and Gerth are all running, unopposed for re-election. Calderon is also running for re-election to the commission, however, not unopposed. Judge Arther is running for re-election unopposed.
The date (Tuesday, January 11) designated by the NMSOS’s proclamation for write-in candidates to file and for candidates to withdraw from the election has passed, meaning the published lists of candidates from Lovington and Hobbs are the ones that will appear on the March 1 ballot.
Non-Partisan Election
The Municipal Officer Election is a non-partisan election. A candidate’s party affiliation is not stated on the ballot next to his or her name, states the NMSOS proclamation.
Runoff Election
The proclamation also states that if a “top-two runoff election” is required, it will be conducted pursuant to Section 1-22-16 NMSA (New Mexico Statutes Annotated) and held on Tuesday, April 12, 2022.
Additional Information
The Lovington Chamber of Commerce, following tradition, will hold Candidate Public Forums on both Thursday, January 27 and Thursday, February 17. “Questions will be formulated and moderated by each of the Chamber Board Members,” states the chamber’s website. The public is asked to submit questions by email to: administration@LovingtonChamber.org.
The City of Hobbs provides important files, candidate forms and “early and absentee voting” information about the upcoming Municipal Election at its website on the “Election Information” page. This web page also provides a map of Hobbs’ districts to assist voters in confirming the district where they reside.
Resolution No. 7142 (in PDF) is also available at this same page for voters pursusal. Resolution 7142, “proposing an economic development strategic plan ordinance” will appear on the City of Hobbs March 1 ballot for voter approval.
Photo by Stefan Moertl // Unsplash
