Hobbs resident, who labels himself as a “consistent conservative champion”, State Rep. Larry Scott (R-62) was unanimously selected on Wednesday, August 16 by Lea County Commissioners as the individual they want Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to choose to fill the State Senate seat recently vacated by Sen. Gay Kernan.
Representing District 42, which consists of portions of Chavez, Eddy and Lea counties, for some 21 years, Sen. Kernan, age 76, resigned from her State Senate office effective August 1. About resigning more than a year before the end of her term, Sen. Kernan said in an interview with the Carlsbad Current-Argus, “I’ve been considering this for a while now. It’s time for me to focus more on my family priorities. It’s time for me to be a little closer to home. Traveling has become a little more challenging for me.”
The senator also said that her early retirement was a difficult decision for her to make. She relied on “much prayerful consideration” and the support of her family. Sen. Kernan added that her early retirement will give her replacement the opportunity to attend “interim meetings” and better prepare for the 2024 legislative session.
During her last term in office, Sen. Kernan, a Republican who has a reputation of “working across the aisle”, served as a member of the Senate Education Committee and was the ranking member of the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to Appoint Replacement
Under New Mexico law when a legislative seat is vacated before the end of a term, the governor, after relying on recommendations from the county commission or commissions represented by the district seat vacated, chooses the replacement. In this case three county commissions – Chavez, Eddy and Lea – are involved in the vetting process. The chosen successor will fill Sen. Kernan’s seat until the end of her term in 2024, although candidates will vie for the position during the November 2024 election.
About the role the county commissions play in the selection process Sen. Kernan is quoted at Finance.Yahoo.com as saying, “They can choose to submit one name among the three of them or [different nominees]. It’s up to them at this point. I have a lot of confidence in the commissions, that they’re going to really take that process seriously, and they’ll do a good job.”
Lea County Commissioners’ Nominee
Lea County Commissioners interviewed Steven McCutcheon II of Carlsbad in addition to Rep. Scott before deciding who to nominate to fill the vacancy in the District 42 seat. A former Eddy County Commissioner, McCutcheon is additionally a businessman and rancher. After questioning both Scott and McCutcheon about “…working across the aisle, difficult decisions they’ve made as government representatives and endangered species acts”, District 3 Commissioner Gary Eidson “moved to submit Scott’s name to fill the Senate vacancy,” states a press release issued by the commissioners. “The motion was seconded by Commissioner Jonathan Sena of District 4 and unanimously approved by all Commissioners.”
Rep. Scott sees himself well qualified to follow in the footsteps of Sen. Kernan. He contends that his experience in and knowledge of the oil and gas industry “are needed in the Senate”, states the Current-Argus article. Coupled with his knowledge about Southeast New Mexico, Rep. Scott says that he plans “… to educate lawmakers from other parts of the state on the importance of fossil fuels, if chosen for the Senate.”
Rep. Scott continues, “I think, given the importance of these industries, there needs to be more experience in both houses. I think it’s lacking in the Senate. I think I can bring practical, on-the-ground experience and make a difference to those senators who seem so opposed to our oil and gas industry.”
If chosen by the governor to fill Kernan’s seat, Rep. Scott also said that he will defend the oil and gas industry from “extreme” environmental regulations, noting that oil and gas money contributes billions of dollars to state coffers. “I would like to see us trust in that a little more,” he said.
Eddy County Commissioners’ Nominee
Even though Lea County Commissioners overlooked McCutcheon, he will still be one of the individuals Gov. Lujan Grisham will consider when filling Sen. Kernan’s seat. On August 15 Eddy County Commissioners selected McCutcheon as their nominee to replace Sen. Kernan. Before finalizing their decision, Eddy County Commissioners interviewed Jack Volpato, a former Eddy County Board of Commissioners member and State Rep. Scott.
McCutcheon served on the Eddy County Board of Commissioners from 2018 – 2022 and was board chairman for two years. He did not seek re-election when his term expired.
McCutcheon is on record as saying that he would like to run for the District 42 seat next year if he is chosen for the interim position by Gov. Lujan Grisham. He told Eddy County Commissioners, “We [Chavez, Eddy and Lea counties] have very little representation [in Santa Fe].” In his application for the District 42 seat, McCutcheon stated, “I hope to take my skills to Santa Fe and represent Lea, Eddy and Chaves County well and shed light on their contributions to the state.”
State Sen. David Gallegos (R-41), representing portions of Lea and Eddy counties, agrees with McCutcheon that Chavez, Eddy and Lea counties need better representation in the state legislature. Gallegos told the Current-Argus about Sen. Kernan’s successor, “We need a team player and someone willing to stand up to state government. People are really tired of what’s been going on in Santa Fe.”
Chavez County Commissioners’ Nominee
Chavez County Board of Commissioners met in Roswell on Thursday, August 18. The Chavez commission voted unanimously to also nominate Rep. Larry Scott.
