Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
In a sign that Tucumcari voters desired change, two incumbent city commissioners - including its mayor - lost decisively during local elections Tuesday.
Also, voters approved bond questions at all four of Quay County's public schools, including one that could lead to a new school at San Jon.
A renewal of a gross receipts tax to support Trigg Memorial Hospital also passed comfortably.
Results are unofficial for now. The Quay County Commission is scheduled to approve a canvass of the local election results on Monday.
In Tucumcari District 1, challenger Jerry Lopez earned 85 votes - almost double of the number by runner-up and fellow challenger Maria Carmen Gonzalez's 44.
Incumbent Ralph Moya, who also is serving at the city's mayor and has been on the city commission for more than two decades, finished a distant third with 27 votes.
Moya's third challenger, Tommy Snapp, totaled four votes.
"I believe the voters have spoken. It's time for a change," Lopez said moments after vote totals were announced in the Quay County Clerk's Office shortly after 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Moya was not present at the courthouse when results were announced.
In Tucumcari District 2, challenger Jonathan Brito totaled 70 votes, comfortably winning over incumbent Paul Villanueva's 49 votes. Villanueva was seeking a second term.
Shortly after vote totals were announced in the clerk's office, Villanueva congratulated Brito and shook his hand.
In District 3, Barton "CJ" Oglesby was unopposed for his seat. He will replace Ruth Ann Litchfield, who resigned due to health reasons in December 2022. City commissioners were unable to find a replacement in the first few months after she stepped down.
On Thursday, the city commission is scheduled to pick a new District 4 commissioner to replace Christopher Arias, who resigned in September due to personal reasons.
By the time the Tucumcari city commission officially is seated in January, it will have four new commissioners. The only holdover is District 5 commissioner Mike Cherry, who was not up for election.
The Tucumcari Public Schools $3 million general-obligation bond question for a new Rattler Stadium track surface and climate-control units at the middle school passed by more than a 2-to-1 margin.
The school district's continuation of a two-mill tax also was approved by an almost 200-vote margin.
In San Jon, a $250,000 bond question passed by a 2-to-1 margin. The district now would be eligible for a $22 million state grant to build a new school.
Logan's $1.1 million bond question for fencing, new doors and locks and other security improvements sailed to approval by nearly a 3-to-1 margin.
House Municipal Schools' $400,000 bond question for security fencing and housing for teachers passed 46-to-21.
A renewal of gross-receipts tax to support Trigg Memorial Hospital gained 955 "yes" votes and just 369 opposed.
In the Logan Village Board, TJ Smith (142 votes) and Deanna Osborn (121 votes) appear to have prevailed over Wesley Brian Cox (120 votes) and Kerry James Cross (108 votes) for two seats.
For the San Jon school board, incumbent Brian Watson fell to defeat in a three-way race for two seats. Eddie Ray Behrends earned 63 votes and incumbent Dale Bone 61. Watson finished third with 56 votes.
At the House school board, Kerri Rachelle Hestand was the odd person out in a four-way race for three seats. Carl Parmer was the top vote-getter with 52, followed by Lisa Downey's 45 and Wendy Green Grigsby's 39. Hestand totaled just 31 votes.
County Clerk Ellen White said voter turnout was 26% overall, a significant increase from the 16% in local elections in 2021. She attributed the increase to more contested elections.
We'll have more election details in next week's edition.
