County redistricting undone

CLOVIS — Back in July, the Secretary of State’s office undertook a sweeping realignment of county elected offices, putting all odd-numbered districts on presidential ballots and even-numbered districts on the gubernatorial ballot. In rare cases, elected officials were granted additional years on their terms to make the math work out.

Pretend all of that never happened.

The state last week notified county clerks the previous status quo is the status quo again after the New Mexico Supreme Court invalidated the state-mandated redistricting Aug. 26.

A group of eight district attorneys, including Ninth Judicial District Attorney Andrea Reeb, sued to prevent implementation of the portion of House Bill 407, which would have moved all DA elections to the 2022 gubernatorial election and grant eight district attorneys two-year extensions. Those DAs feared the extensions could later be struck down in court, and any convictions won during those fifth and sixth years would be at risk.

The Supreme Court agreed, and also struck the entire realignment.

Curry County commissioners have returned to the following designations:

• Bobby Sandoval, District 1

• Ben McDaniel, District 2

• Chet Spear, District 3

• Seth Martin, District 4

• Robert Thornton, District 5

Roosevelt County commissioners have returned to the following designations:

• Dennis Lopez, District 1

• Matt Hunton, District 2

• Shane Lee, District 3

• Tina Dixon, District 4

• Paul Grider, District 5

Also in Roosevelt County, the two-year term extensions for Lee and Probate Judge Michelle Bargas have been rescinded. Lee, who is term-limited, is slated to serve through 2022. Bargas’ position will be up for re-election in 2020.

The commissioners’ representation areas did not change under the realignment, and in most cases commission districts simply switched from an even to odd number.