Butler says there won’t be a tax election recount

One of the most vocal opponents of the spaceport tax says the loosely knit group can’t afford and won’t seek a recount.

“No recount. No money,” said Doña Ana County Commissioner Oscar Vasquez Butler. “This is rich against the poor.”

The most updated count as of 5 p.m. Thursday gives supporters of the tax 8,947 votes, or 50.8 percent, and opponents 8,682 votes, or 49.2 percent. The difference is 265 votes, or 1.6 percent, and there are 108 provisional ballots left to consider.

Elections workers should finish counting today.

Meanwhile, Virgin Galactic released a statement late Thursday thanking voters for approving the tax.

“This positive vote is tremendous for the personal spaceflight industry, and the vision and spirit of adventure shown by the people in New Mexico and particularly in Doña Ana County is remarkable,” said Jonathan Firth, Virgin’s project director. “I said in Las Cruces last week that we had no Plan B, and I’m delighted that we don’t need one.”

He said Virgin looked forward to establishing its worldwide headquarters and operating base in New Mexico.

“It’s going to be so exciting to have our customers come to Spaceport America, fly them into space and bring them back as astronauts,” he said. “It’s exciting, too, to get to know the people of Doña Ana, Sierra and Otero counties as we get established in the area and start thinking about the many other opportunities that the spaceport will stimulate.”