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Area candidates file for N.M. legislative races

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Jeff disqualified from ballot – for now

SANTA FE – Area candidates flocked to Santa Fe March 8 to file for various state legislative races. Filing were some familiar faces who’ve been out of politics for a while and some new folks who want to blaze trails.

Filing for McKinley County District Attorney and judicial seats also took place.

Sandra Jeff of Crownpoint, previously a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives  as of four years ago, filed to run for the District 22 Senate seat currently held by Benny Shendo, D-Jemez Pueblo.

Jeff served District 5 up until four years ago when she was unseated by newcomer Wonda Johnson in a landslide vote.

But, this race could be over for Jeff, who was disqualified from the ballot for noncompliance “associated with reports which were due in past filing periods and the fines associated with those past issues,” according to New Mexico Political Report.

New Mexico Secretary of State Brad Winter’s office reportedly revealed this information to the media on March 16. It’s not clear if Jeff will challenge the ruling. She has 10 days to file an appeal.

Prior to the hearing the news of her disqualification, Jeff shared a glimpse of why she’s running for a senate seat.

“For me this represents a change of dynamics,” Jeff said of getting out of the House. “There was some gridlock in the House when it came to voting sometimes. I want to get away from that and work in a bipartisan manner.”

District 22 includes McKinley, San Juan, Sandoval and Rio Arriba counties. The district does not include Gallup. Jeff at times received criticism from some constituents because she didn’t always vote along party lines.

State Rep. Patricia Lundstrom, D-Gallup, is unchallenged in District 9.

Sen. John Pinto, 91, is a former Navajo Code Talker and is the longest serving member of the Senate. He is being challenged by Willis Nez of Navajo Estates in the District 3 race.

George Muñoz, D-Gallup, will face newcomer Felisha Adams of Iyanbito. Adams is the granddaughter of former Democratic State Rep. Albert Shirley who served the state legislature in the 1980s. Muñoz, the son of a former Gallup mayor, first won the District 4 seat in 2009.

“To date my engagement in the community has made it clear that our residents would like change that leads to more opportunity,” Adams said. “I will create legislation to achieve these goals for our district.”

Jordan Johnson of Vanderwagen filed for the District 4 Senate seat, too.

Tohatchi’s Kevin Mitchell, a local pet grooming business owner and the vice-president of the Gallup-McKinley County School Board, filed to run against incumbent Wonda Johnson of Church Rock who is serving out her first District 5 term after defeating Jeff in that district race.

Mitchell said he’s in the race to bring “accountability and visibility to the district.”

“I want to stress visibility and accountability to the people in the district,” Mitchell said. Mitchell ran against Jeff several years ago in a race that Jeff won.

“If elected I think I can do a good job in stressing education and fighting for my constituents,” Mitchell said.

In the 11th Judicial District, which comprises McKinley County, incumbent Karl Gillson faces newcomer Bernadine Martin of Gallup. Both are Democrats. Incumbent Republican Lyndy Bennet is unopposed in the District 5 race.

In the District 3 Congressional seat, incumbent Ben Ray Luján faces three challengers, all of them Republican. Luján is scheduled to be in Gallup April 4 for a follow up town hall-style meeting about continued funding for NCI.

A primary will be held on June 7 and the general election is Nov. 8. All 112 seats in the New Mexico Legislature will be decided on. The House of Representatives has 70 members and the Senate 42. There are 37 Republicans and 33 Democrats in the House and 24 Democrats and 18 Republicans in the Senate.

By Bernie Dotson
Sun Correspondent


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