Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Justin Knapp gets his paperwork ready for Quay County Clerk Ellen White as he prepares March 8 to file as a Republican candidate for Quay County Commissioner District 3. Knapp was the first candidate to file that morning for local primary elections.
Voters for the Republican primary election for Quay County Commission's District 3 will face a crowded field, with five candidates filing for the position last week.
Local GOP and Democratic candidates for sheriff, magistrate judge, probate judge and assessor also filed at the county clerk's office on March 8. The primary election will be June 7.
Republicans filing for District 3 in the county are Justin G. Knapp, a Tucumcari firefighter and business owner; Kent Terry, a Logan business owner; Franklin D. Gibson, a Bard rancher and president of the San Jon school board; Zachary Scot Murray, a rancher east of Tucumcari; and Brian Dale Fortner, a retired House schoolteacher.
Tommy Wallace, a rancher and longtime Quay County Fair board member, was the only Democrat who filed for District 3.
They seek to replace current District 3 commissioner and chairman Franklin McCasland, a Republican who is term-limited.
District 3 for the county commission encompasses Logan, San Jon, Bard, Nara Visa, Norton and east Tucumcari. The position is at-large, which means every registered voter in the county can cast a ballot in the primary election.
For sheriff, current undersheriff Dennis Victor Garcia and retired Tucumcari police officer Herman Isidro Martinez filed on the Republican side.
Reyes E. Gonzales, a Tucumcari police officer, is the lone Democratic candidate. He ran unsuccessfully for sheriff in 2018.
They seek to replace Sheriff Russell Shafer, a Republican who is term-limited.
Christina M. Wilson filed as an unopposed Republican candidate for probate judge. No Democrats filed for the position. She is due to replace Nelda Burson, who is term-limited.
Magistrate Judge Noreen L. Hendrickson, a Republican, is running unopposed for re-election. No Democrats filed for the position.
County Assessor Janie Hoffman, a Republican, is running unopposed for re-election. No Democrats filed for the post.
Quay County Clerk Ellen White said anyone who wishes to register to vote, update their voter registration, request absentee ballots or view sample ballots should go to nmvote.org. The last day to register by mail or online is May 10, though same-day voter registration is available with proper identification through June 7.
Early voting at the Quay County Courthouse in Tucumcari begins May 10 and lasts through June 4 on Mondays through Thursdays.
Polling places on primary election day will be the Tucumcari Convention Center, House Community Center, Forrest fire station, San Jon Community Center, Nara Visa Community Center and Logan Civic Center.
An absentee-ballot drop box will be set up near the handicap-accessible ramp on the north side of the county courthouse. Anyone with questions should call the clerk's office at (575) 461-0510.
Winners of the Republican primary will have a built-in edge during the Nov. 8 general election. According to county clerk data, Quay County has 2,666 voters are registered as Republicans, compared to 1,987 registered as Democrats. A total of 1,066 voters are unaffiliated.