Serving the High Plains
link QCS Photo: Thomas Garcia
Candidates for local and state primary election gathered Thursday night for a forum at the Nara Visa Community Center.
QCS Staff
Thirteen candidates for state and local offices sought voter’s support at a candidate forum Thursday and helped the Nara Visa Community Center raise $3,000 in donations to help with the upkeep of the community center’s building.
The candidate forum shared space with an enchilada supper and a pie auction in the community center’s gym. Some 70 residents gathered to meet the candidates and listen to their reasons for seeking election in the June primary election.
“It was great to have all the candidates and their families come to Nara Visa,” said Renee Rinestine, event coordinator.
Rinestine said while there was not as many local residents attending the function as they would have liked, it was nice to see the nearby Logan and Tucumcari residents and officials at the event.
“The event was more successful than the previous year’s and it’s always nice to draw people to our community,” Rinestine said.
The enchilada dinner raised $450 and a pie auction raised $2,550.
Those candidates in attendance of the forum in ballot order:
All eight candidates running for Quay County Sheriff — Republicans Russell D. Shafer and Juan I. Barreras and Democrats Frankie J. Gutierrez, Nathan S. Wallace, Dennis W. Smart, Lane Bradley, Larry Cooksey and Charles B. Gates.
The sheriff’s candidates agreed the Quay County Sheriff’s Department needs to become more active, seek more input from the community and to develop a more direct public presence to secure public safety. There was also consensus on the need for sheriff’s deparment participation in efforts to increase drug interdiction.
All of the candidates also said the sheriff’s office should work frequently with other local and state law enforcement agencies. All agreed there is a need for additional and continued education and training for the person who is elected as sheriff, as well as for deputies in to provide the best protection and service.
Other speakers included a representative for David Kale Clements, who is running against Allen E. Weh for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat held by Tom Udall, and Jefferson L. Byrd, who is running unopposed in the Republican primary for the U.S. House of Representatives seat held by Ben Ray Lujan.
District 3 Quay County Commission candidate Franklin D. McCasland (R) talked about his bid for the seat currently held by Brad Bryant, who has chosen not to run for re-election.
Warren E. Carter is also seeking the District 3 Republican nomination but was not present at the forum.
Also speaking at the forum but running in unopposed races were:
State Rep. Dennis Roch, (R), County Assessor, Vic Baum, and Probate Judge Nelda Burson (D).
Ballots
Democrat
United States Senator
Tom Udall
United State Representative
Ben R Lujan
Robert Blanch
New Mexico Governor
Howie C. Morales
Alan M. Webber
Lawrence D. Rael
Gary K. King
Linda Lopez
Lt. Governor
Debra A. Haaland
Secretary of State (N.M.)
Maggie Toulouse Oliver
State Auditor
Timothy M. Keller
State Treasurer
Tim Eichenberg
John Werthem
Attorney General (N.M.)
Hector Balderas
Commissioner of Public Lands
Ray Bennet Powell
Judge of the Court of Appeals
Kerry C. Kiernan
Quay County Magistrate Judge
David Joel Garnett
Quay County Sheriff
Frankie J. Gutierrez
Nathan S. Wallace
Dennis W. Smart
Lane Bradley
Larry Cooksey
Charles B. Gates
Quay County Probate Judge
Nelda A Burson
Republican
United States Senator
Allen E. Weh
David Kale Clements
United States Representative
Jefferson L. Byrd
New Mexico Governor
Susana Martinez
Lt. Governor
John A. Sanchez
Secretary of State (N.M.)
Dianna J. Duran
State Auditor
Robert J. Aragon
State Treasurer
Rick J. Lopez
Attorney General (N.M.)
Susan M. Riedel
Commissioner of Public Lands
Aubrey Dunn
Judge of the Court of Appeals
J. Miles Hanisee
State Representative District 67
Dennis J. Roch
Public Regulation Commissioner
Patrick H. Lyons
Quay County Commissioner District 3
Franklin McCasland
Warren E. Carter
Quay County Assessor
Vic Baum
Quay County Sheriff
Russell D. Shafer
Juan I. Barreras