By Rodd Cayton — East Mountains voters have made their preferences known, selecting local and state representatives for the next two or four years.
District 5 Bernalillo County Commissioner Eric Olivas, a Democrat, fended off a challenge from Republican Thomas Riley. Preliminary information from the New Mexico Secretary of State’s office shows Olivas with 33,833 votes to Riley’s 21,877.
The three East Mountains districts in the New Mexico House of Representatives will retain their party affiliation, though one will get a new legislator. Stefani Lord was elected to a fourth term in District 22; her 2,289 votes surpassed Democratic nominee William Burton Scott (1,135 votes) and Independent candidate Zach Withers 305 votes). Democratic incumbent Matthew McQueen did not seek reelection in District 50. Democrat Sarah Boses beat Republican Kenneth Brennan in the contest to replace him, gaining 8,416 votes to Brennan’s 4,060. Democratic State Rep. Anita Amalia Gonzales ran unopposed in District 70.
In Torrance County, Republicans Nathan Allen Schafer and Thomas J. Holt were elected as commissioners, replacing term-limited incumbents Kevin McCall and Ryan Schwebach, respectively. In a three-way race for the District 1 Seat, Schafer had 999 votes, with Democrat Albert Chavez gathering 675 and independent candidate Stephen E. Garrett picking up 189. Holt led Democrat William F. Peifer 1,009 to 575.
Republican Crystal M. Garcia appears poised to be the county’s next assessor,
Torrance County Assessor. Garcia led Democrat Hugh G. Jones 3,386 to 1,973.
Estancia Police Chief Tom Carter, a Republican, ran unopposed in the race for county sheriff.
Santa Fe County Commissioner Camilla M. Bustamante ran unopposed and will retain her District 3 seat. That district includes Edgewood, Stanley, and Galisteo.
All vote totals are unofficial until the election results are certified by the state and county canvassing boards. Because the East Mountains districts span multiple counties, the state board bears the responsibility for certifying those results.