The Colfax County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to recommend Thomas Garcia as the next representative for House District 68.
I’m still trying to find out if the Taos County commission has acted.
Colfax County Commissioner William B. Conley of Angel Fire confirmed Thursday’s 3-0 vote to recommend Garcia.
Colfax joins Guadalupe and San Miguel counties in recommending Thomas Garcia. The Mora County commission recommended Paula Garcia. Taos is the only other county in the district.
All counties must recommend candidates to Gov. Bill Richardson before he can make an appointment. If Taos has done so, Richardson could make an announcement today.
The position is open because of the resignation of state Auditor-elect Hector Balderas. Richardson is expected to name his replacement by Monday so the new representative can vote for speaker of the House during the Democrats’ caucus meeting.
With the speaker race between Ben Lujan and Ken Martinez close to a tie, the new representative could cast the deciding vote.
My sources tell me Richardson plans to appoint Thomas Garcia, a big supporter of Lujan. Richardson insists he’s staying out of the speaker race and is working quickly to appoint because constituents are anxious to make capital outlay requests to their new representative.