Independents join November political races

As expected, two new independent candidates have joined 10 Republicans and one Democrat for local races on the Curry County ballot for the November general election.

One name not on ballots released by the Secretary of State’s Office – at least not yet – is District Attorney Brian Stover. But Stover said Friday he is still on track to be on the November ballot, unopposed, as a Republican candidate for the DA position.

Thursday was candidate filing day statewide for independent, minor party, and write-in candidates for the 2022 General Election.

In addition to the June 7 primary winners, November’s ballot will include Tom Martin in the race for Curry County Commission District 2 and David Lansford in the hunt for the District 64 House seat. Both candidates announced their plans earlier this year to file as independents.

Stover’s name not appearing on the ballot released Friday was a surprise for some. He was appointed to succeed retiring DA Andrea Reeb earlier this year by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and had announced plans to seek the Republican nomination for the job, which he received. No Democrats have opposed him.

But Stover said because of the timing of Reeb’s resignation, state officials said his name could not appear on the June Primary Election ballot.

“I will be on the ballot (in November), but it’s a different path,” he said Friday.

“Because I was appointed, and the time I was appointed, there wasn’t enough time for me to be on the primary ballot; it would not have been fair (to other potential candidates).

“So the Republicans held a caucus. I had to meet with them and be interviewed and they selected me to appear on the ballot. Paperwork has to be filled out and signed by the chair of the Republican Party. When I receive that paperwork, I will file with the local court clerk. The deadline is Aug. 30, and I will beat that deadline.”

The two local independents who will appear on ballots in November are both familiar names.

In Curry County, Tom Martin, long-time area restaurateur and self-proclaimed “taco maker emeritus,” declared his candidacy as an independent running for the District 2 seat on the Curry County Commission. That’s a post Martin was appointed to last November after the death of Commissioner James Ridling. He is opposed by Republican Bradley Dean Bender.

Martin said he is running as an independent because that way he won’t be aligning with either of the major political parties.

“I think both sides have important contributions to our society, but neither is the be all, end all,” Martin said.

Martin said he believes as an independent he can use his best judgment instead of being dictated to, instead of having to follow a particular party line.

“Even though the county officials are partisan, that’s not my mindset,” he said.  “My mindset is whatever is best for the people of Curry County.”

Bender is manager at the car dealership Bender GM on Mabry Drive in Clovis.

“It’s not a surprise,” Bender said of Martin’s candidacy. “I knew he was filing from the start.”

Bender said the competition between the two men will be “great, awesome.”

“In my mind there are two opponents that care about the community,” Bender said. “So there’s no ‘lose’ situation in this.”

Lansford, longtime former mayor of Clovis, said last week he is “not officially a candidate yet. I did sign the declaration, I submitted my petitions. Those petitions have to be certified.”

Lansford said he expects the petitions to be certified Tuesday.

Lansford said he has a “tremendous amount of energy” and he’s excited about the opportunities ahead.

He said he thinks he will be able to work well with Republicans and Democrats at the state House if he’s elected.

“I think most problems (for an independent candidate) are imaginary.” Lansford said. “I think when it gets down to it, it’s about people’s integrity, trustworthiness and their desire to work hard as a public servant.”

Former Ninth Judicial District Attorney Andrea Reeb was unopposed in the Republican Party’s June 7 primary for the District 64 seat. She will be Lansford’s lone opponent in November.

“I’ve always encouraged people to get out and run for office, especially when it’s an important race like a House seat,” Reeb said about the challenge from Lansford.

The newly reconfigured District 64 is territory that includes the eastern part of Clovis running over to Texico, south to encompass half of Portales, southwest to Elida and ending on the north side of Roswell in the vicinity of the Roswell Mall.

“I’m looking forward to it, a good contested race,” Reeb said.  “I’m not taking any vote for granted and I’m going to be out there campaigning hard.”

District 63 representative

Martin Zamora (R)

District 64 representative

David Lansford (I)

Andrea Reeb (R)

District 67 representative

Jackey O. Chatfield (R)

Curry County

District Court Judge

Benjamin S. Cross (R)

Magistrate Judge Division 1

Janemarie A. Vanderdusen (R)

Magistrate Judge Division 2

Stephen R. Whittington (R)

County Commissioner District 1

Fidel M. Madrid (D)

County Commissioner District 2

Thomas W. Martin (I)

Bradley D. Bender (R)

County Commissioner District 3

Dusty Leatherwood (R)

County Sheriff

Michael D. Reeves (R)

County Assessor

Randa K. Jesko (R)

Probate Judge

Hollie L. Barnett (R)

Roosevelt County

Magistrate Judge

Christopher A. Mitchell (R)

County Commissioner District 3

Roy L. Criswell (R)

County Commissioner District 4

Tina M. Dixon (R)

County Commissioner District 5

Paul E. Grider (R)

County Sheriff

Javier Sanchez (R)

County Assessor

Stevin L. Floyd (R)

D - Democrat

I - Independent

R - Republican