Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Two running for soon-to-be-open board seat

Two Clovis residents will vie for the soon-to-be-vacant District 3 school board seat.

District 3 representative Lora Harlan announced in March she would be resigning effective May 28. The board must name a replacement to serve the nine months before the election in February.

The two candidates are Paul Cordova Jr. and Rodney Muffley, both 38. The deadline to submit a letter of interest or resume was Friday.

Cordova is the electrical inspector for Clovis. He said he wants to do what he can for education.

“I’ve lived here for 38 years, I graduated from Clovis High School in 1989, I have two daughters in the school system so I just want to try to do my part,” Cordova said.

Cordova said he is still deciding whether or not to run for the seat in the February election.

Cordova has been an electrician since 1993 at various electric companies in Clovis and is an instructor at Clovis Community College.

Muffley is the chief financial officer and superintendent of Clovis Cemeteries. He said he wants a part in determining the direction of the schools.

“There is a lot going on with the schools right now,” Muffley said. “I just want to be a part of helping guide our youth in the right direction.”

Muffley has a masters degree in business administration and has two children and a step daughter in the school system.

President Mark Lansford said the board will interview candidates at the May 25 board meeting. The board will interview and vote in public, he said. Lansford said the candidate chosen will be sworn in after Harlan’s May 28 resignation day, but a time hasn’t been set.