Gardner challenged for state rep

Staff and Wire Reports

State Rep. Keith Gardner, R-Roswell, will have a challenger for his House seat in the June 6 primary. Lucille B. Tucker, also a Roswell Republican, filed Tuesday to run against the incumbent whose area includes Roosevelt and three other counties.

Gardner, who unseated Earlene Roberts for the District 66 seat two years ago, said he does not know his latest challenger, though he’s heard of her. He said he does not know why she filed to run against him.

Tucker could not be reached for comment on Tuesday night.

Gardner said he’s hoping voters will let him return to Santa Fe for a second term.

“I’ll tell you, it’s been nice serving Roosevelt County especially,” he said. “I’ve made a lot of good friends in Portales and in the smaller towns around Portales. It’s like going home when I go there. I guess that sounds kind of hokey, but it’s true.”

Gardner said he was pleased he was able to help secure $45,000 in funding for the Newman Project this year, a program aimed at senior citizens safety, named in honor of a longtime Portales couple slain last year.

“You hate to be reactive in government, I’d rather be proactive, but we had to do something after that tragedy; it just tears your heart out,” he said.

Here are area House candidates who filed Tuesday. Only Gardner has an opponent. (Senate seats are not up for election this year.):

District 63-Curry, DeBaca, Guadalupe, Roosevelt counties

Democrat: Jose A. Campos, Santa Rosa (i)

District 64-Curry County

Republican: Anna Crook, Clovis (i)

District 66-Chaves, Eddy, Lea, Roosevelt counties

Republican: Keith Gardner, Roswell (i); Lucille B. Tucker, Roswell

District 67-Curry, Harding, Quay, Roosevelt, San Miguel, Union counties

Republican: Brian Moore, Clayton (i)