Clovis mayor weighs in on election

Clovis Mayor Mike Morris was “extremely happy” after voters on Tuesday decided to allow retail businesses to receive Local Economic Development Act incentives.

“I was extremely happy after having worked on this for as long as I did,” he said.

He was especially happy that the measure received support from 73% of voters. Officials said 954 voters favored the measure, and 349 voted against it.

The citizens of Clovis, Morris said, showed they were willing to “do things they'd never done before to strengthen the local economy.”

Morris credited the success of the measure to a “team effort” that included the Clovis Industrial Development Corporation, the Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce and the city's MainStreet organization, as well as the Clovis city commission for bringing about the policy change.

The New Mexico Legislature in its 2021 session removed a prohibition on retail business eligibility for Local Economic Development funds in cities with populations of 35,000 or more, including Clovis.

Morris was active in supporting that legislation.

LEDA grants are administered by the New Mexico Economic Development Department to help city and county governments expand or relocate qualifying business that can stimulate economic development and public benefits, according the EDD website.

Morris said the former policy, which only allowed LEDA to assist “economic base” businesses - those that export goods and services out of the region, which he said was less than successful in bringing economic growth to rural cities.

The new policy allowing LEDA to benefit retail businesses will make Clovis more competitive with Texas cities, which will also allow retailers to take advantage of economic development benefits, Morris said.

Morris said market analysis has shown the Clovis area has gaps in categories like general merchandise, grocery and clothing stores.

Morris has said the city will not raise taxes as a result of the measure and will not recruit businesses that provide services already well-established in the city.

Also in Tuesday's elections:

In the Clovis Municipal School district, former teacher Sharon Epps was the clear winner in a three-way race, taking 488 votes versus 216 for incumbent Kyle Snider and 49 for former teacher Rosa Sanchez.

“I'm honored,” Epps said, “I prayed for a year and a half to help our people in the district.”

The board seat marks her first time on “the other side” of the school system, Epps, a retired teacher and school principal, said.

Her 35 years in education included 14 years of teaching and 14 years as a principal in Clovis schools, followed by years as a school principal in Portales.

She continues to have a “love of schools” and said even in retirement, education is her passion.

Epps said she plans on doing a “lot of listening and learning” as she begins her time as a school board member, and she hopes to build connections between the board and staff, teachers and the community.

She defeated the incumbent Snider to attain the District 1 seat, but said Snider “has done a great job” in his nine years with the board.

In Roosevelt County, Braden Fraze claimed a tight four-way race for Position 4 of the Portales school board. In a four-person race, Fraze took 68 votes, compared to 56 for Meredith Seifert, 52 for incumbent Antonio Sanchez and 10 for William Hilliard.

Fraze said he credits his win to maintaining “a lot of relationships.”

“I gained a lot of trust,” he said.

The position 3 race was won by Jimmie Standifer, who took 92 votes against Angela Smith's 69.

“I am very excited to have been elected to serve on the Portales School Board,” Standifer stated in an email. “I am very humbled by the large amount of people that turned out to vote, not only in district 3 but in all districts. I do not take this position for granted and will do my very best to serve the students, teachers, and parents in the Portales School district.”

He attributed his victory to being a lifelong Roosevelt County resident.

“The people know and trust me,” he stated. “I feel I am like-minded with most voters in our county” when it comes to children's education.

Mark Peabody easily won a three-way race for the Texico school board's Position 4 seat. Peabody took 91 votes, versus 30 for Troy Teague and eight for Dustin Ptolemy. Peabody could not be reached for comment.

School board races in Floyd drew much voter interest, even though the board is currently suspended by the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) for July and August votes to make COVID-19 mitigation practices optional at Floyd schools in defiance of New Mexico Public Education Department policies mandating the practices.

In the race for the Floyd school board's Position 2, Kenny Reed toppled incumbent Jeffrey Essary for the post, taking 85 votes to Essary's 29.

Reed noted a big turnout, indicating “there is still a lot of interest” in educational issues in Floyd.

“No doubt, the community is supportive of its schools,” he said.

Charlsea Lee retained her Position 5 seat, beating Adam Burns 71-59.

Lee said she was happy to be re-elected, and would continue to fight for local control of the district “to the best of my ability.”

Incumbent Vicki Banister ran unopposed for her Position 1 spot.

The PED has scheduled an arbitration hearing for the board members for January, and attorneys for both parties have declined to comment on the ramifications of the election on the board and the hearing.

Dora retained Jana Roberts for Position 4, with 61 votes versus Shawna Wade's 52.

“I am grateful to the Dora Community for their support and for the overwhelming support of both the GO bond and the 2-mill levy,” Roberts stated in an email. She added, “It is important to keep the buildings,” she added, “along with the education process in good condition.”

She thanked voters and stated, “It is a great day to be a Coyote.”

Voters in both counties overwhelmingly approved capital improvement taxes and mill levy questions in Portales, Texico, Melrose, Elida, Grady and Dora.

Results, available at the New Mexico Secretary of State's office website, are considered unofficial until they are canvassed by their respective county commissions.

Most of the Tuesday night races were uncontested, covering school boards, soil and water conservation districts and hospital districts.