Malin Parker re-elected sheriff

PORTALES — Malin Parker said Wednesday he’s looking forward to four more years as Roosevelt County sheriff.

“I’d just like to do our job in the most professional manner as possible,” said Parker, the incumbent who defeated challenger Darrell Chenault in Tuesday’s primary election.

“I think we’ve provided Roosevelt County excellent service the last four years and we want to continue providing Roosevelt County excellent service.”

Parker defeated Chenault by 155 votes in the Republican primary, without any Democrat opposition.

He tallied 892 votes compared to 737 for Chenault. Parker did not want to comment on what he thought set the two candidates apart.

“I really don’t want to speculate on anything or add any drama to this race in any way,” Parker said.

Chenault said it’s not easy to defeat an incumbent, but he did not think name recognition alone decided the race.

“I don’t know, we’re both Roosevelt County born and raised,” Chenault said. “We’re both well known on both sides. I don’t have any idea what the difference was. I don’t try to dwell on it that much. He won and I’m moving on to the next chapter.”

Officials said 2,085 Roosevelt County voters participated in the primary, a turnout of 26.23 percent of registered voters.

Another Roosevelt County incumbent, Gene Creighton in the County Commissioner District 4 race, was defeated by challenger Tina Dixon, 173-116.

Dixon said she wasn’t sure what helped put her over the top.

“I don’t know, I just know that I’m very blessed and I feel so proud that my community got behind me and all my supporters. I just appreciate it very much,” Dixon said. “I just look forward to serving Roosevelt County. I’m very excited about it.”

In the county’s only other contested primary race, Republican Christopher Mitchell won the magistrate judge election with 519 votes, defeating James Southard (492), Jimmy Parrish (397) and Michelle Bargas (183).

Republican George Beggs took 1,252 votes in the county assessor race, where he faced no opposition.

No Democrats ran in local races in Roosevelt County.