Incumbents retain seats

Incumbents and two-mill levies won the day in school elections Tuesday.

The results are unofficial until the canvas at 9 a.m. Friday. However, since there were no provisional ballots, Roosevelt County Chief Deputy Clerk Linda Connelly said she expected no changes in the tallies.

Clerk’s office employees said the cold, snowy weather contributed to low voter turnout.

Portales

The Portales Municipal Schools two-mill levy — which pays for maintenance, repairs, remodeling and equipment in the district — passed 357 to 72, meaning support of just more than 83 percent.

“We were extremely pleased with the support of the community of Portales provides to our school district,” said Superintendent Randy Fowler.

Fowler said the mill levy is critical to maintaining buildings and providing a safe environment for students.

In the school board’s District 1, incumbent Rodney O. Savage garnered 75 votes, almost 68 percent, compared to challenger Noelle Joy Bartl’s 36 votes.

Savage said he appreciated voters getting out in Tuesday’s bad weather, and he hoped he could continue to serve them well. He also thanked Bartl for her effort.

“I think that’s quite commendable on her part,” Savage said, adding that Bartl would have made a good board member.

Also, Savage said the passage of the two-mill levy was the most important thing and a vote of confidence from the community.

Bartl said she was pleased Savage had been re-elected with his experience.

“The community can’t go wrong,” she said.

In Portales’ District 5, incumbent Mary Lou Rowley received 46 votes, almost 70 percent, compared to challenger Laurie M. Stone’s 20 votes.

“I’m really happy to be able to serve another term,” Rowley said. “I think we’re doing a good job with the obstacles we have.”

Stone said she wished for the best.

“(Rowley’s) done a great job, she’s built a great foundation, and may her next run be even better,” Stone said.

In District 2, Inez F. Rodriguez ran unopposed and received 43 votes. Antonio R. Sanchez Jr. had no opponent in District 4 and had 106 votes.

Of the 8,508 registered voters in the Portales district, 411, or 4.8 percent, came to polls, according to the Roosevelt County Clerk’s Office.

Dora

Dora Consolidated School District’s two-mill levy passed by a vote of 75 to 26.

“I just want to thank all the voters for coming out and supporting our district,” Superintendent Steve Barron said.

The support was overwhelming, Barron said.

In Dora’s school board Position 1, incumbent Billy D. Prater received 82 percent of the votes, or 89 votes. Challenger Ray Pallares garnered 13 votes.

Prater thanked his supporters.

“They were very gracious to me, and I appreciate every vote,” he said.

Pallares wished Prater “the best of luck during his term as board member” and thanked those who voted for him.

Kenneth D. Cox ran unopposed for Position 3 and received 79 votes.

Of the 396 voters registered in the Dora school district, 25 percent, or 102, voted.

Elida

For Elida Municipal Schools Board of Education Position 1, Montie Nickels won with 72 votes, almost 85 percent. Floyd Jones received 13 votes.

Neither candidate was an incumbent.

“I appreciate the people that voted for me, and I’ll do them the best job I can,” Nickels said.

Jones congratulated Nickels and said he hoped the other man did well.

Emiliano Jasso Jr. received 84 votes running unopposed for Position 2.

The district has 265 registered voters, 32 percent, or 85, of which came to the polls.

Floyd

All of Floyd Municipal School’s board of education candidates ran without opposition. Marvin Leon Nall, James R. “Jim” Chandler and Clovis Gray each received four votes for positions 3, 4 and 5, respectively.

Floyd had a voter turnout of 1.4 percent, with four of 277 registered voters participating.