Bond's fate in voters' hands

With early voting closed and the election slated for today, residents will soon know the outcome of the proposed bond for the Portales Municipal School District.

Voters are being asked whether $9.5 million in General Obligation Bonds will be issued to help construct a new school facility to replace both Steiner Elementary School and Lindsey Middle School. If the bond passes, it will be used in conjunction with $11.8 million that has been awarded by the State of New Mexico.

Anathalia Baca, a senior deputy clerk with the Roosevelt County Clerk’s office, said 294 early votes were cast — 284 by walk-ins and the other 10 by mail.

“I think it’s better than the last time we had an election,” Baca said of the votes.

For property valued at $120,000, the estimated monthly increase in taxes would be $2.84 or a total of $34 a year.

“We had a good turnout for our school early vote. We’re hoping for a lot of people to vote (today),” said Janet Collins, Roosevelt County clerk.

The clerk’s office will be busy today, not only with the school election, but also with candidate filing for Districts 3 and 4 of the hospital board. Candidates wishing to file will be able to do so between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. only, Collins said

“We’re going to have this special hospital district election on Nov. 6,” Collins said.

The current positions are held by Boyd Evans, District 3, (Dora area) and Fred Anthony (Elida area) for District 4. The hospital districts are laid out the same as the county commission districts, said Collins.

Early voting for the hospital election will take place from Oct. 12 to Nov. 2. A candidate who has filed for the election and chooses to withdrawal may do so by Oct. 2. The deadline for a write-in candidate is also on Oct. 2. Those who wish to vote in the hospital board election must be registered by Oct. 9, Collins said.

“It’s always good to see the people vote their convictions, whatever they are,” Collins said of the elections.