Inconsistencies with information on hand
The unofficial list of candidates for the City of Gallup’s Municipal Officer Election was released Jan. 8 and listed two candidates for Dist. 4 City Councilor, Francisca “Fran” P. Palochak and Levi F. Saucedo.
However, as of Jan. 22, the official ballot is down to just Palochak.
A letter issued Jan. 10 to Saucedo by the City of Gallup stated he did not qualify as a candidate pursuant to the express requirements of the New Mexico Election Code.
Specifically, he was determined to be in violation of Section 1-22-3.1E(3) NMSA 1978, which states a candidate will not be placed on the ballot until they are notified in writing by the municipal clerk the certificate of registration is on file with the clerk and the declaration of candidacy and the petition are in order to make that person qualified as a candidate.
The letter then states Saucedo’s declaration of candidacy indicates he resides on the 3200 block of Grey Hill Circle in Gallup, however the information on hand at the McKinley County Clerk’s Office states he resides on the 3300 block of Box Canyon Avenue.
Since the address is inconsistent with the declaration of candidacy, Saucedo was removed from the official ballot, because his documents were determined to not be in proper order.
Saucedo has since declared himself a write-in candidate.
However, Chris Saucedo, Levi’s brother, said Jan. 20 the correct information should have been given to McKinley County when Levi got his new driver’s license over a year and a half ago.
“Someone from the county did not update the information on their end,” Chris Saucedo said.
Chris added he was told by City Clerk Alfred Abeita if they can get a letter from the county stating the error was on their end and present it to the city, Levi would be put back on the official ballot. However, if no letter is received, he will remain a write-in candidate.
There were no further updates to Levi Saucedo’s case at press time.
The Municipal Officer Election is slated for March 3.
By Cody Begaye
Sun Correspondent
