11 vote in hospital board election

DEPUTY EDITOR

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With 97.5 percent of the vote, De Baca County residents approved an eight-year continuation of a tax levy to operate the De Baca Family Practice Clinic.

On an otherwise light electoral night for eastern New Mexico, De Baca’s voters turned out with a 269-7 approval of keeping the tax, which is expected to generate about $2.1 million over the eight years while costing a property owner about $14 per $100,000 of property value.

De Baca County Clerk Rosalie Gonzales said her office hand-counted the ballots because the vote total wasn’t high enough to justify dealing with machine counting. Election day totals were 208-5 in favor, with a 57-1 count in early votes and 4-1 in absentee ballots.

There was nothing on the ballot for Curry County voters, but participation barely topped it in Roosevelt County. A total of 11 people cast ballots for two unopposed Roosevelt Special Hospital district positions, with Scott Reeves receiving five votes in District 1 and Robin Inge six votes in District 2. Both will serve five-year terms on the board.

Texas had seven constitutional amendments, and early returns indicated all seven would pass. As of 9 p.m. Texas time, 38.7 percent of precincts reported the following results:

• Prop 1: Increases homestead exemption from ad valorem tax for public schools, 87.5 percent in favor.

• Prop 2: Provide ad valorem tax exemption for disabled veteran spouses, 91.8 percent in favor.

• Prop 3: Repeal a requirement state officers reside in the state capital, 67 percent in favor.

• Prop 4: Permitting raffles by professional sports team charitable foundations, 69.3 percent in favor.

• Prop 5: Authorizes small counties to construct and maintain private roads, 82.9 percent in favor.

• Prop 6: Recognizing the right for people to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife, 82.4 percent in favor.

• Prop 7: Dedication of certain taxes for the state highway fund, 83.3 percent in favor.