Tucumcari election ends in tie

TUCUMCARI — One Tucumcari city election appears headed for overtime.

Incumbent District 2 Commissioner Jimmy R. Sandoval and challenger Christopher Maestas each received 67 votes on Tuesday.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Tucumcari City Clerk Rachel Hicklin. “I’ve heard of it happening in other places but it’s never happened here that I can remember.”

Hicklin said the vote is unofficial until 1:30 p.m. Wednesday when ballots will be counted by hand.

If they’re still tied, the candidates will have to choose some means of deciding the election.

“It will be up to them at that point,” said Hicklin. “They can pick cards from a deck, play a hand of poker, draw straws or flip a coin. It’s up to them.”

The city’s other commission race was decided on Tuesday. Incumbent Commissioner Antonio J. Apodaca defeated challenger Ralph Moya 105-83.