Election blog: At least five AGs have come from Clovis

CNJ staff photo: Tony Bullocks Max Best of Clovis places his ballot into a voting machine Tuesday at Zia Elementary School. Best said it his civic duty to vote, "you can't complain if you're not taking part.”

Tuesday night’s blog reported at least four New Mexico attorneys general have come from Clovis. Longtime attorney Lynell Skarda adds one more name to the list:

Clovis’ Fred Standley — “a good friend of mine,” Skarda said — was AG in 1957 and 1958.

• • •

Incumbent probate judge Kevin Duncan edged former judge Ribble Holloman in Tuesday’s election, the Curry County clerk’s office reports.

Duncan received 1,532 votes to 1,372 for Holloman — 53 to 47 percent.

Also, Curry County reports incumbent state Rep. Anna Crook easily defeated Wade Lopez, 1,882 votes to 290.

Both Republican winners are unopposed in November.

• • •

Tex Belcher won Roosevelt County’s race for tax assessor and Scott Burton is the new District 4 county commissioner, according to results released from the Roosevelt County clerk’s office.

Democrat Rodney Payne will square off against Republican Kendell Buzard in the race for District 5 county commissioner in November.

Here are the final, unofficial results:

• District 5 county commissioner: Democrats — Rodney Payne 47, Duane Lee 42, Charlie Dobbs 22; Republicans — Kendell Buzard 98, Lori Bohm 66, Allen Deen 51, Larry Jewell 50.

• District 4 county commissioner: Republicans — Scott Burton 144, Nancy Gentry 117, David Craig 57.

• Assessor: Republicans — Tex Belcher 998, Kenner Carrasco 398.

• • •

The Secretary of State’s office is reporting the following with 17 of 21 precincts reporting in Roosevelt County:

• District 5 county commissioner: Democrats — Rodney Payne 35, Duane Lee 23, Charlie Dobbs 8; Republicans — Kendell Buzard 42, Lori Bohm 34, Larry Jewell 34, Allen Deen 32, .

• District 4 county commissioner: Republicans — Nancy Gentry 68, Scott Burton 56, David Craig 14.

• Assessor: Republicans — Tex Belcher 531, Kenner Carrasco 245.

• • •

The Secretary of State’s office is reporting the following with 29 of 37 precincts reporting in Curry County:

Kevin Duncan leads Ribble Holloman in the Republican race for probate judge, 1,123 votes to 1,019. There are no Democratic candidates.

Anna Crook leads Wade Lopez, 1,275-192, in the Republican race for District 64 state representative. There are no Democratic candidates.

• • •

The Secretary of State’s office is reporting the following with 14 of 37 precincts reporting:

Kevin Duncan leads Ribble Holloman in the Republican race for probate judge, 892-808 votes. There are no Democratic candidates.

Anna Crook leads Wade Lopez, 1,065-157, in the Republican race for District 64 state representative. There are no Democratic candidates.

• • •

If Chandler is elected attorney general, he won’t be the first from Clovis. That distinction belonged to Harry Patton, an Arkansas native whose family settled in eastern New Mexico in 1906.

Patton was New Mexico’s second attorney general, serving in 1917 and 1918 before returning to Clovis as a district judge.

Other AGs from Clovis include Earl Hartley (1961-64), James Maloney (1969-70) and David Norvell (1971-74).

Hartley was the father of Clovis District Judge Teddy Hartley.

• • •

Curry County is reporting the following after counting early and absentee votes:

Kevin Duncan leads Ribble Holloman in the Republican race for probate judge, 618-572 votes. There are no Democratic candidates.

Anna Crook leads Wade Lopez, 839-97, in the Republican race for District 64 state representative. There are no Democratic candidates.

• • •

Democratic incumbent Gary King and Republican challenger Matt Chandler were unopposed in Tuesday’s primary race for attorney general.

But the race promises fireworks in November.

Chandler, the district attorney for Clovis and Portales, has already been critical of King’s ability to prosecute corrupt politicians.

Chandler was campaigning in Moriarty on Tuesday night and offered a few comments via telephone:

• On political partisanship: “There is an anti-incumbent movement right now, not only in New Mexico but across the country. My message is that the AG’s office should not be a political position with regard to Democrat vs. Republican; it should be a position for New Mexicans.”

• On the campaign trail: “We’re going to do our best over the next five months to get our message out to New Mexicans, from the four corners to the borders. Our travel schedule is booking up fast and there will be times where we take several road trips to reach the different people throughout our state. This summer, I’m looking forward to my family being with me on the road and getting to see the state.”

• On running the district attorney’s office while campaigning: “We don’t plan on missing a beat. With technology we can certainly stay updated and work on the road when necessary. I don’t foresee it having any negative impact. That was one of the situations I had to analyze when making the decision to run (for AG). Certainly my priorities are to make sure we continue to serve the people of the 9th district.”