Full slate of candidates file to run in state, county elections

Full slate of candidates file to run in state, county elections

Sun-News report
LAS CRUCES — State Rep. Mary Helen Garcia, a Democrat, will retain her District 34 seat without a challenge, as no other candidates had thrown their hat in the ring by the filing deadline Tuesday. But she was the exception, as a full slate of candidates signed up to run in county and state races.

The primary election, for those races with more than one candidate from the same party, will be June 5. Winners will meet in the general election on Nov. 4.

Because of redistricting, County Commissioners Scott Krahling and Leticia Duarte Benavidez are now both in District 5, and will face each other in the Democratic primary, where Benjamin Luchini has also filed to make it a three-person race. The winner will face former Commssioner D. Kent Evans, who represented District 4 for eight years.

Primary elections will be held for both parties in the race to replace Krahling in District 4. David Luther Bonner and Wayne D. Hancock will square off on the Democratic side. The winner will face either Vernon C. Wilson or Robert S. Jeska, both Republicans.

In District 2, three Democrats have filed to replace Dolores Saldaña-Caviness, who must give up her seat because of term limits. They are David Garcia, Alfredo Garza and Alexander Cotoia. The winner will face Republican Janice R. Brooks in the Nov. 4 general election.

Incumbents Lynn Ellins and David Gutierrez will both face Republican challengers in November. Former Las Cruces City Council member Dolores Lucero Conner will challenge Ellins for county clerk, while Hank Bear Strevel will take on Gutierrez for treasurer.

Democrats Paul A. Martinez and Keith E. Lamonica will vie for magistrate judge in Division 3. The winner in the primary will earn the judicial seat, as no Republicans are running.

In state Senate races, there will be two local vacancies this year, with Cynthia Nava (District 31) and Stephen Fischmann (Distrcit 37) both stepping down.

Longtime House member Joseph Cervantes will give up his District 52 seat to seek Nava’s Senate seat. He’ll be challenged by former Sunland Park Mayor Jesus Ruben Segura in the Democratic primary. The winner will face Republican Brett C. Preston in the general election.

Democrat William Peter Soules and Republican Cathey Jo Alberson will run for Fischmann’s District 37 seat.

Longtime incumbent Mary Jane Garcia will face a challenge from former county commissioner Oscar Vasquez Butler for her District 36 Senate seat. The winner will face Republican Lee S. Cotter in November. Mary Kay Papen will be challenged by Republican Neal L. Hooks for his District 38 seat.
In District 35, which now includes Doña Ana County, John Arthur Smith of Deming, longtime chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, will face a primary challenge from Larry Martinez. The winner will face Republican Russell G. Allen.

Andy Nuñez, who left the Democratic Party to become the only independent in the Legislature, is not yet on the ballot, but said he plans to collect enough petitions to run again in District 36. If successful, he’ll face Phillip M. Archuleta, a Democrat, in the general election.

Democrats Doreen Yvonne Gallegos and Andrew Moralez and Republican Arlington E. Brewbaker Jr. are running for the District 52 seat vacated by Cervantes.

Joni Marie Gutierrez is also stepping down this year. Former county commissioner Bill McCamley, a Democrat, and Republican Angelina Carver will vie for her District 33 seat.

Former Rep. Jeff Steinborn, who had represented District 37, is now in District 35 as a result of redistricting, and will face incumbent Antonio Lujan in the Democratic primary. The winner will face Republican Charles Green in November.

Terry McMillan, who defeated Steinborn two years ago, will be challenged by Joanne J. Ferrary in District 37. And in District 53, Democrat Nate Cote will look to get his seat back from Republican Rick Little, who beat him in 2010.

In District 39, which now stretches into Doña Ana County, incumbent Rodolpho Martinez of Bayard will be challenged by Republican John L. Zimmerman of Las Cruces in the general election.