Five to seek re-election

PNT senior writer

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Five Roosevelt County officials plan to seek re-election for their seats in the June primary election.

Incumbents are county commissioners Scott Burton (District 4) and Kendell Buzard (District 5), Magistrate Judge Linda Short, Clerk DeAun Searl and Assessor Kenner Carrasco.

They said they all plan to file for candidacy today, the only day to file for the June 3 primary, at the Roosevelt County clerk’s office as Republican candidates in the election.

The other seats up for election are the commissioner for District 3 and county sheriff. The incumbent of those seats have served two consecutive terms and are therefore ineligible to run for reelection.

Short has worked for 22 years at the court and has served in the roles of clerk and court manager. The 49-year-old was elected judge in 2010.

Short said she wants to run again because she feels she’s fair and professional and intends to continue to provide that service for the community of Roosevelt County.

Buzard, who was also elected in 2010, said he’s learned a lot in his first term. Buzard, 51, is an agricultural producer in his district that lies in the northwest area of the county.

“I enjoy giving back to the community and if I get elected, I have some experience under my belt and I think I’ll be effective this time,” said Buzard on why he wishes to run again.

County Assessor Kenner Carrasco was appointed to the position in July 2011 when the seat became vacant. Carrasco, 46, of the Milnesand area, said he’s served in the office for nearly 12 years.

Carrasco said he’s seeking reelection because there’s still a lot of work to do with his office and he wants to guide his staff through new changes.

Searl, 43, was appointed to the clerk position in December after former Roosevelt County Clerk Donna Carpenter resigned in protest after the state Supreme Court ruled same-sex marriages legal.

Searl has served in the office for about five years and is running for a two-year term. Searl said the reason her seat is up for election is based on the state attorney general’s opinion that should be able to vote for a position after it is vacated even if that position is not in its election year.