Election to feature three challenges to incumbents

The March 1 municipal elections in Clovis and Portales will feature three incumbents facing challenges for their seats, following Tuesday’s filing day.

In Portales, Mayor Ron Jackson is facing opposition from Reydecel Coss, Eastern New Mexico University’s Campus Life director, while Ward B Councilor Oscar Robinson is facing two opponents.

In Clovis, two city commission seats will have contested races, one a two-year term and one a four-year term with no incumbent on the ballot.

Jackson said he wants to remain as Portales’ mayor to continue some projects that have been started while he has served on the council.

“I feel the city is headed in the right direction,” he said, and he wants to continue with matters the community cares about.

In addition, he said, “I would like to see better things” for the city.

Jackson said his 12 years on the council, with the past four years as mayor, have prepared him for situations the city may face, and he would like to keep the city moving forward.

Coss, said he thinks the city needs new vision for business and industry, and more opportunities for Portales residents to start small businesses.

Coss said he wants to work with city employees to ensure they are working at “maximum efficiency,” and said he would listen to their suggestions to make the city successful. He added he wants to work with first responders to enhance safety and security in the city.

“I want to be an agent of change,” he said.

Coss said he has lived in Portales since he was a student at ENMU, beginning in 2009.

“I fell in love with the campus and the community,” he said.

Robinson said he wants to remain on the council representing Ward B “to bring closure” on projects that include roads, recreation, reopening the city’s public swimming pool, and economic development.

He said he wants to help create more job opportunities in the city and improve its shopping opportunities.

Robinson wants to work with the county’s economic development board to bring in new business and help existing businesses expand, he said.

Portales, he said, “is a rose in the desert and I want to help make it a better rose.”

One of Robinson’s opponents, Grace Padilla, said she is running “because I want to be more involved in what is going on in Portales; I want to be part of the decision-making on how to improve our town.”

She said she wants to have a voice in decisions about changes and improvements in the city.

“I would like to be a part of a team that can make a difference and also let the people of Portales know that they too have a voice,” she said.

John Bonifant, another contender for the Ward B position, said he is motivated because “I have always wanted to try and do this,” adding “I have always wanted to be part of my community and to help out.”

Bonifant said he has a small family and has noted “there is really not much for younger kids in the community to do, nowhere for them to play or hang out in the area.”

He would like to change that, he said, adding “I’m a good listener and believe that everyone in Portales has something to say and would like the chance to be heard.”

In Clovis, James Burns is running to serve out the final two years of the District 1 commission term he was appointed to in October. He will be challenged by George Jones, who lost a 4-3 commission vote to Burns.

Burns said he wants to stay on with the two years left in the term to which he was appointed.

“I really enjoy living in Clovis, and I think the city is in really good hands,” he said. “I think I can be of benefit to the citizens of Clovis by helping to steer the city in the right direction.”

Jones, who spent 26 years in the U.S. Air Force and eight years as chair of the Cannon Federal Credit Union board of directors, told The News he has “a desire to serve.”

Jones has served on the city’s Public Works committee, Economic Incentive board and the Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) task force, as well as the city’s Charter Review committee. The committee presented several recommended changes to the city commission, four of which will be on the March 1 ballot, he said.

“The decision to run for the District 1 city commissioner is not something I take lightly,” Jones said. “I have seen the city of Clovis grow in a positive direction and I want to have a vote in the city’s continued growth.”

Jones said if he is elected, he will focus on economic development first, then on finances, public safety, infrastructure, quality of life and city services.

In District 3, Fidel Madrid chose to vacate the city post; he told The News he intends to run for the Curry County Commission. Both of the candidates seeking to replace him are former city employees.

Paul Nelson, who retired this year as the city’s information technology director, is facing off with David Bryant, a former city purchasing agent.

Nelson retired after 23 years as a city employee.

He is running for the commission, he said, because his knowledge about city employment would be a benefit to current city employees and “to the city as a whole.”

Bryant said he is running to help the city meet “significant challenges in the future,” and said new vacancies in city positions is encouraging because new employees may help the city launch “new beginnings.”

Bryant said public safety is a major concern, and he wants to help the city avoid losing police officers.

Charter questions: Clovis voters will also have four questions regarding the city charter. Questions include raising the recall petition signature requirement from 20% of prior municipal election turnout to 33 1/3%, requiring a recall petition include a reason, eliminating a section on term limits rendered unenforceable by the state constitution and an editing of the charter to be gender-neutral (i.e. amending sections where commissioners are referred to as “himself”).

Uncontested races: In Portales, four incumbents were the lone signups for their positions - Barbara George for municipal judge, Jake Lopez for Ward A councilor, Mike Miller for Ward C councilor and Dianne Parker for Ward D councilor.

Three incumbents in Clovis were the only people to sign up Tuesday — Vicki Kelley for municipal judge, Juan Garza for District 1 of the city commission and Megan Palla for District 4. Ronald Porter was the lone only person to sign up for the District 2 commission seat, which was vacant with Gary Elliott declining to seek a third term.

Texico and Elida have no contested municipal races.

In Texico, those signing up were Jerry Bradley for mayor, Max Carter for Position 1 on the council, Oran Audrey for Position 2 and Joshua Gussendorf for municipal judge.

In Elida, Durward Dixon filed to continue as mayor.

Also signing up for office were Steve Barron in Trustee Position 1, Beverly Creighton in Trustee Position 2 and C.D. Newberry for municipal judge.

Write-in filing: Tuesday will be the only day for write-in candidates to file for municipal elections. It is also the last day for a candidate to withdraw from the ballot.