Runoff mayoral election set for March 31
The Gallup City Council heard the results of the Regular Municipal Election canvass during their March 10 meeting.
The canvass took place earlier March 10 before the McKinley County Board of Commissioners, who acted as the Canvassing Board in accordance with the State Election Code.
City Clerk Alfred Abeita said the results were in line with what was reported as the unofficial results on March 3.
This also means since mayoral frontrunner Sammy Chioda did not receive 40 percent of the vote, there will be a runoff election held between the two qualified candidates who received the highest number of votes cast for the office, in accordance with the City Charter.
The runoff election was made official through a resolution presented to the City Council as specified in the City Charter.
Chioda and Louis Bonaguidi will have their names on the ballot for the runoff election on March 31. The runoff election will cost the city $28,000, which will come from the City Clerk’s election expense account.
The same voting convenience centers from the March 3 election will be utilized, and a five-day early voting period will be held from March 23-27 during regular business hours. Absentee voting will begin as soon as possible, according to Abeita.
Abeita also spoke about the eligible voters for the runoff election.
“The same registered voters from the March 3 election will be [eligible] for the March 31 election,” Abeita said.
Dist. 2 Councilor Allan Landavazo made one request to the motion, that they add an extra day for early voting on March 28 from 10 am - 6 pm.
“We had an excellent turnout with the early Saturday vote,” Landavazo said. “I’ve had a number of requests from folks to add Saturday to the early vote. It’d give both candidates equal opportunity to have their supporters come out.”
The resolution for the runoff election and the extra early voting day were approved with a 4-0 vote.
Other items discussed during the meeting:
A budget adjustment of $715,130 from Fund Balance 507 for a contract with Bixby Electric, for alley electrical work from First Street to the walkway between Second and Third Street as part of the city’s Alleyway Beautification Project, was approved with a 4-0 vote.
A budget increase for Octavia Fellin Public Library of about $130,162, which comes from a grant from the State of New Mexico, Department of Cultural Affairs, State Library Division, for equipment, furniture, fixtures, and other library resources, was approved with a 4-0 vote.
