Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Voters in Quay County will face a decision on a three-way race for the county assessor’s position during the June 4 primary election.
Two incumbents up for re-election on the county commission face challengers, as well.
Candidates who filed for the county treasurer and clerk’s position likely will be unopposed, barring the filing later this summer by any independent candidates.
A candidate for district attorney also is unopposed, but the current DA, an independent, may file for re-election in late June.
For assessor, current officeholder Dana Leonard of Tucumcari, a Democrat, faces opposition from two Republicans, James Kleinsasser and Jefferson Byrd, to complete a two-year term.
County commissioners in March 2023 chose Leonard, the county’s geographic information system mapper, as assessor after Janie Hoffman stepped down after 14 years in the position. Hoffman and her husband were in the process of purchasing Western Plains Title in Tucumcari.
Kleinsasser currently is chief deputy assessor. Byrd formerly was a member of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission from 2019 and 2023 and unsuccessfully ran for the state Public Lands Commissioner in 2022.
Byrd and Kleinsasser submitted job applications for the assessor position after Hoffman resigned. All are from the Tucumcari area.
For District 1 county commissioner, incumbent Robert Lopez, a Democrat, faces opposition for a second term from Dallas Dowell, a Republican. Both are from rural Tucumcari.
District 1 encompasses Quay County north of Tucumcari Boulevard in Tucumcari.
For District 2 commissioner, incumbent Jerri Rush, a Republican from Forrest, faces opposition for her second term from David Holman, a Libertarian from Tucumcari.
District 2 encompasses southwest Quay County.
Current deputy district attorney Heidi Adams of rural Tucumcari filed as a Republican for the 10th Judicial District Attorney position, with no Democrat filing. The district encompasses Quay, Harding and De Baca counties.
However, her boss, Timothy Rose, was elected DA as an independent during the previous election and doesn’t have to file for re-election until June 27.
Rose has applied to be judge of the 10th Judicial District, and a decision on that position is expected later this month.
The previous judge, Albert Mitchell Jr., retired after 15 years on the bench.
Veronica Olguin Manley filed as a Democrat for the county clerk’s position and apparently will be unopposed. She previously served one term as clerk from 2012 to 2016.
The current clerk, Ellen White, is term-limited.
Chief deputy treasurer Albenita Rael filed as a Republican for the top job in that office and likely will be unopposed.
The current treasurer, Patsy Gresham, is term-limited.